Methods and Efficacy of Acupuncture for Regulating Body Weight in Different Populations

• Published in: Journal of acupuncture and tuina science 2007-04, Vol.5 (2), p.97-102
• Main Author: 徐斌 刘志诚 袁锦虹 毛珍 邵清华 王欣君
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acupuncture; Obesity; Overweight; 体重调节; 耳穴贴压; 肥胖症; 针灸疗法
• ISSN: 1672-3597; 1993-0399
• DOI: 10.1007/s11726-007-0097-2

Objective： To investigate the proper methods of acupuncture and moxibustion for controlling body weight and their objects. Methods： 274 outpatients were allocated to 3 observation groups： obesity, overweight and normal, using standard weight as an index. The obesity group was divided, at a ratio of 1： 1 ： 3, into 3 groups： fixed prescription, local treatment and treatment based on syndrome differentiation. The syndromes were classified into five types in the syndrome differentiation group. Different protocols of acupuncture and moxibustion plus auricular-plaster therapy were drawn up for treatment. Body mass index （BMI）, body fat （F%）, body circumferences and subcutaneous fat were evaluated in the patients before and after treatments. Results： There was a difference in the controlling effect of acupuncture on body weight among different populations. The curative effect was better in the obesity and overweight groups than in the normal group; the effective rate was 72.2%, 72.5% and 44.0%, respectively. There was also a difference in curative effect among obesity patients with different types of syndromes. The curative effects on retention of damp-heat in the stomach, stagnation of liver qi and dampness retention due to splenic hypofunction were equal but all better than those on deficiency of splenonephric yang and internal heat due to yin deficiency. There was also a difference in curative effect among different protocols. The curative effects in the syndrome differentiation-based treatment and fixed prescription groups were equal （77.8%） but all better than that in the local treatment group （53.3%）. Conclusion： Acupuncture and moxibustion is an effective way to treat obesity and overweight. Treatment based on syndrome differentiation and fixed prescription on the basis of syndrome differentiation are effective methods.