The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes overweight and obesity as a global epidemic due to their contribution to chronic health conditions like stroke and heart disease. From 2013 to 2016, nearly half of the adults in the United States attempted to lose weight, exploring various methods from conventional treatments to alternative therapies like acupuncture. But does acupuncture really work for weight loss?
While limited studies suggest acupuncture may be an effective complementary treatment for overweight and obesity, the evidence is mixed. This article explores the existing research, potential mechanisms, and safety considerations surrounding acupuncture for weight loss.
Understanding Acupuncture and Its Potential Role in Weight Loss
Acupuncture, a traditional Chinese medical practice, involves stimulating specific points on the body by inserting thin needles through the skin. It has been studied for its ability to manage pain, but less research exists on its effects on weight loss.
Acupuncture practitioners believe that weight gain is caused by body imbalance and that acupuncture can stimulate the body’s energy flow ("qi" or "chi") to impact factors that can reverse obesity, such as:
- Increasing metabolism
- Reducing appetite
- Lowering stress
- Affecting the part of the brain that feels hunger
Weight gain, according to traditional Chinese medicine, is caused by body imbalance. That imbalance, according to ancient teachings, can be caused by a malfunctioning liver, spleen, kidney, thyroid gland, or endocrine system. So, for weight loss, acupuncture treatments commonly target these areas of the body.
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How Acupuncture May Aid Weight Loss
Obesity often stems from issues in energy metabolism and appetite regulation. Clinical studies suggest that acupuncture may help to:
- Regulate the endocrine system
- Modulate metabolism
- Promote digestion
- Attenuate oxidative stress
A 2021 study concluded that acupuncture therapy for obesity involves targeting the neural circuits of the hypothalamus, the region that controls the body’s energy homeostasis and appetite. Acupuncture uses thin needles that the practitioner inserts at specific sites on the body to stimulate nerves and organs that regulate energy and metabolism, including the endocrine system and thyroid glands. This may affect a person’s weight and aid weight loss.
Examining the Research: What the Studies Say
Some studies show that acupuncture may help with weight loss.
- A small 2015 study studied the effects of massage and manual acupuncture on 50 participants and found that both manual acupuncture and massage can reduce body weight and body mass index (BMI) significantly.
- Another small 2015 study from Japan found that acupuncture on the ear area effectively caused changes in active levels of ghrelin, a hormone produced in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract that can increase hunger levels. Study participants in the acupuncture group experienced a reduction in body weight compared to the control group.
- A 2019 review and meta-analysis on acupuncture for weight loss in Asians found that acupuncture effectively reduced waist circumference and BMI, but only reduced weight when combined with diet and exercise.
- Additionally, a 2020 review comparing the effects of acupuncture with so-called “sham acupuncture” for simple obesity showed that acupuncture significantly reduced body weight and BMI compared to sham acupuncture. This appears to counter claims that the effects of acupuncture are merely a placebo effect. Another 2017 meta-analysis reported that acupuncture, whether alone or with lifestyle interventions, significantly reduced BMI.
Acupuncture, as one of the complementary and alternative medicines, represents an efficient therapeutic option for obesity control. A meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of acupuncture in obesity and also summarized the available studies on exploring the mechanisms. Six databases from the inception to April 2017 without language restriction were searched. Eligible studies consisted of acupuncture with comparative controls ((1) sham acupuncture, (2) no treatment, (3) diet and exercise, and (4) conventional medicine). The primary outcomes consisted of BMI, body weight reduction, and incidence of cardiovascular events (CVD). Secondary outcomes included waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), body fat mass percent, body fat mass (kg), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), glucose, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) reduction, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) increase, and adverse effects. The quality of RCTs was assessed by the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. Subgroup analyses were performed according to types of acupuncture. A random effects model was used to adjust for the heterogeneity of the included studies. Publication bias was assessed using funnel plots. Included were 21 studies with 1389 participants. When compared with sham acupuncture, significant reductions in BMI (MD=-1.22, 95%CI=-1.87 to -0.56), weight (MD=-1.54, 95%CI=-2.98 to -0.11), body fat mass (kg) (MD=-1.31, 95%CI=-2.47 to -0.16), and TC (SMD=-0.63, 95%CI=-1.00 to -0.25) were found. When compared with no treatment group, significant reductions of BMI (MD=-1.92, 95%CI=-3.04 to -0.79), WHR (MD=-0.05, 95%CI=-0.09 to -0.02), TC (MD=-0.26, 95%CI=-0.48 to -0.03), and TG (MD=-0.29 95%CI=-0.39 to -0.18) were found. When compared with diet and exercise group, significant reduction in BMI (MD=-1.24, 95%CI=-1.87 to -0.62) and weight (MD=-3.27 95%CI=-5.07 to -1.47) was found. Adverse effects were reported in 5 studies. It was concluded that acupuncture is an effective treatment for obesity and inferred that neuroendocrine regulation might be involved.
The Importance of Lifestyle Changes
Acupuncture won’t directly cause you to lose weight. Acupuncture can play a very significant role in weight loss through an indirect approach because acupuncture can improve metabolism, reduce cravings and mitigate stressors on the body that affect one’s appetite.
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However, to see long-term changes in weight loss you need to commit to lifestyle changes. This includes changes in diet and exercise. If you're having trouble committing to these lifestyle changes, acupuncture may also help with that.
Ear Acupuncture for Weight Loss
The ear is another area that acupuncture practitioners target for weight loss. It’s believed that food cravings can be controlled by manipulating points on the ear. This is a similar treatment to that used by acupuncture practitioners to help smokers and drug users end their addictions.
The Challenge of Acupuncture Studies
If there’s a chance that acupuncture can help people lose weight, why aren’t there more studies proving it to be effective or ineffective? There have been studies suggesting that acupuncture is likely effective for weight loss. But a review of those studies suggested that these results weren’t totally convincing because of problems with the way the studies had been carried out.
Sometimes the results of small studies can be combined to improve their statistical relevance. In this case, the studies featuring acupuncture often have too many variables to combine, including differences in technique, number of acupuncture points, number of sessions, length of sessions, use of placebos or sham intervention. Also, acupuncture study results are often heavily influenced by each participant’s personal beliefs, expectations, and relationship with the practitioner. These influences can alter the impact of the actual acupuncture treatment and skew the data for the study.
Safety and Potential Side Effects
Acupuncture is generally safe when a qualified and licensed practitioner performs it. People may prefer it because they experience fewer side effects than they do taking medication.
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Common side effects include:
- Needle site pain or tenderness
- Needle site bruising or bleeding
- Feeling dizzy
- Fainting
- Drowsiness
Serious side effects are uncommon in acupuncture. Below are rare complications associated with the treatment:
- Pneumothorax, or collapsed lung
- Central nervous system injury
- Peripheral nerve injury
- Organ injury
- Other tissue injuries
To ensure safety, a person should research and look for a trained practitioner who has a license to practice in their state. Most practitioners do not recommend people undergo acupuncture if they have:
- Active infections
- Severe neutropenia
- Psychosis
- Pacemakers
Treatment Duration and Expectations
Like other weight loss methods, a person typically needs several sessions to see changes. To eliminate 10-15 pounds, one would need frequent treatments over an extended period of time - up to 8 weeks with multiple visits per week. The program largely depends on the acupuncturist, but most will taper off visits as the program progresses.
Consulting with Your Doctor
A person may want to talk with their doctor if lifestyle changes, exercise, and diet do not work in reaching their weight loss goals. Their doctor may recommend medicines that can help. In some cases, a doctor may also recommend bariatric surgery. The qualifications for bariatric surgery include:
- Having a BMI over 35
- Having a BMI over 30 for people with type 2 diabetes
- Having a BMI of between 30-34.9 for those who do not find substantial weight loss or comorbidity improvement using nonsurgical methods
It is also essential to talk with a doctor before trying alternative and nonconventional treatments for weight loss.