A study was conducted in Taiwan to evaluate the effect of acupuncture on obesity. The results showed that electro-acupuncture is more effective than sit-up exercises in reducing body weight (BW) and Body Mass Index (BMI)
Objective: To compare the effects of electro acupuncture and sit-up exercise on weight control of obese women.
Measurement: The measurements of body weight (BW), Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist Circumference (WC) were taken.
More than 50 per cent of Americans are overweight with 20 per cent classified as obese . Obesity is related to diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular disease, which are major diseases in Taiwan and other developing countries. Obesity is becoming a global epidemic and common health problem.
This was a randomised crossover study. Each patient were randomly allocated to receive either the electro-acupuncture treatment for six weeks and then after a one -week washout period, a sit-up exercise treatment for 6 weeks.
The trial was conducted from January 2002 to December 2002 in the Taipei Hospital, Taiwan. A total of 54 simple obese women were enrolled. Enrolled subjects were between the age group of 16 and 65 years, with waist circumference and BMI greater than 90 cm and 30 kg/m2 respectively.
The standardised acupuncture points were chosen, according to the theory of Chinese medicine and clinical experience, by several consultants and Chinese-medicine doctors of our study. Six acupuncture points on the abdomen and six acupuncture points on both lower legs were selected. The stainless-steel acupuncture needles were inserted to a depth of approximately 2.5 cm after using skin sterilisation procedures. The needles in acupuncture points of lower legs were manipulated by rotating back and forth. The subjects should have the sensation of ‘De-Xi’, a term used in acupuncture to describe a feeling of ‘heaviness’ in the area surrounding the insertion locus. Electro acupuncture was applied to the abdominal acupuncture points only. Six stainless-steel acupuncture needles were inserted at the six abdominal acupuncture points, three needles serving as the positive pole, and the others as the negative pole to allow three electrical stimulation sets. The needles were connected to an electrical stimulator.
Each acupuncture treatment lasted for 40 minutes. All subjects should receive two treatments per week, for a total of 6 weeks during electro acupuncture treatment course.
Assessment: All measurements were carried out after an overnight fast using standardised methods and were performed in the beginning, six, eight and 13 weeks later.
To compare the effect of electrical stimulation on abdominal acupuncture points, we designed the abdominal sit-up exercise for comparison. Thus, we conducted this randomised and crossover clinical study to demonstrate the effects of electro acupuncture on obesity.
In conclusion, this study demonstrated that electro acupuncture is more effective than sit-up exercise in reducing BW, BMI and WC, making it an alternative treatment option for weight and WC control on obese women.
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