Journal Article•
Preliminary results of triple therapy for obesity.
01 Sep 1996-International Journal of Obesity (Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord)-Vol. 20, Iss: 9, pp 830-836
TL;DR: The triple therapy for obesity included weekly auricular acupuncture, diet control and aerobic exercise counseling for eight weeks resulted in a satisfactory body weight reduction and a good maintenance of the target weight after treatment.
Abstract: OBJECTIVE : To evaluate the effectiveness of triple therapy in treatment of simple obesity. SUBJECTS : Forty-five cases of simple obesity with a body mass index (BMI) above 30 kg/m 2 and percentage of body fat more than 25% in males, and 30% in females were collected. Subjects were composed of 8 males and 37 females ranging in age from 16 to 70 years old with a mean age of 33.8 years. METHODS : The triple therapy for obesity included weekly auricular acupuncture, diet control and aerobic exercise counseling for eight weeks. The reduction in body weight and body fat were measured upon just completing the therapeutic course. The changes of body weight in follow-up at one month and one year later were also analyzed respectively. RESULTS : The results showed a 4.4 ± 2.9 kg reduction in body weight and a 5.6 ± 3.0% reduction in body fat after completing the treatment course. Five cases had their body weight reduced to within the normal range, 18 cases showed a marked effect (body weight reduced by more than 5 kg and body fat reduced more than 5%), 16 cases were considered effective (body weight reduced by 2-5 kg and body fat reduced by 1-5%), and 6 cases were considered to be ineffective (body weight reduced by less than 2 kg and body fat reduced by less than 1%). The rate of effectiveness was 86.7%. The rate of body weight rebound (weight regained more than 1.5 kg) was 6.7% and 18.9% one month and one year later, respectively. The effectiveness of weight reduction was significant correlated with the compliance of participants with each therapeutic method, but not with age. No special side effects were noted during or after the treatment except for two cases who had intolerable pain when receiving auricular acupuncture. CONCLUSION : The triple therapy resulted in a satisfactory body weight reduction and a good maintenance of the target weight after treatment. Furthermore, more frequent aerobic exercise during the treatment course contributed greatly to body weight reduction and maintenance, as indicated by the correlation analysis.
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TL;DR: Electroacupuncture application in obese women may decrease the serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL cholesterol levels by increasing the serum beta endorphin level, and this lipolytic effect of EA may also reduce the morbidity of obesity by mobilizing the energy stores that result in weight reduction.
Abstract: Our purpose in this study was to investigate the effect of acupuncture therapy on body weight and on levels of the serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in obese women. Fifty-five women were studied in three groups as follows: (1) control group (n = 12; mean age = 43.3 ± 4.3, and mean body mass index {BMI} = 32.2 ± 3.4); (2) electroacupuncture (EA) (n = 22; mean age = 39.8 ± 5.3, and BMI = 34.8 ± 3.3); and (3) diet restriction (n = 21; mean age = 42.7 ± 3.9, and BMI = 34.9 ± 3.3). EA was performed using the ear points, Sanjiao (Hungry) and Shen Men (Stomach), and the body points, LI 4, LI 11, St 25, St 36, St 44 and Liv 3, once daily, for 30 minutes, for 20 days, whereas patients on diet restriction had a 1425 Kcal diet program, that consisted of 1425 Kcal daily for 20 days. There was a 4.8% weight reduction in patients with EA application, whereas patients on diet restriction had a 2.5% weight reduction. There were significant decreases in total cholesterol and triglyceride levels in EA and diet groups compared with the control group (p < 0.05 in both cases). Furthermore, there was a decrease in LDL levels in the EA group compared with the control group (p < 0.05). No significant changes could be found in HDL levels among the three groups. Our results suggest that EA application in obese women may decrease the serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL cholesterol levels by increasing the serum beta endorphin level. This lipolytic effect of EA may also reduce the morbidity of obesity by mobilizing the energy stores that result in weight reduction.
112 citations
TL;DR: The underlying principles of acupoint stimulation are described, with an emphasis on auricular (ear) acupuncture, the method most often chosen for obesity studies, and the difficulties of selecting suitable placebo controls are highlighted.
Abstract: Although acupuncture is being utilized to treat a variety of important health problems, its usefulness in obesity management has not yet been fully evaluated. The aim of this review paper was to survey and critically evaluate the descriptive and controlled trials of acupuncture for enhancing weight loss. The underlying principles of acupoint stimulation are described, with an emphasis on auricular (ear) acupuncture, the method most often chosen for obesity studies. The difficulties of selecting suitable placebo controls are highlighted. To date, most trials have been descriptive in nature, of short duration (< or = 12 weeks), and designed using nonstandard treatment protocols. Despite the unique challenges involved, further careful study of acupuncture's potential usefulness as an adjunct in weight management is recommended. An agenda for future research in this area is provided.
101 citations
TL;DR: Weight reduction was found to be a practical adjuvant treatment in the rehabilitation of patients with knee osteoarthritis and obesity.
Abstract: Objective
To evaluate the effect of weight reduction on the rehabilitation of patients with knee osteoarthritis and obesity
Methods
A total of 126 patients with bilateral knee osteoarthritis and obesity were classified into 3 groups by their stages of osteoarthritis Each group was divided into subgroups a, b, and c The subjects in subgroup a received weight reduction treatment, those in subgroup b received weight reduction and electrotherapy modalities, and those in subgroup c received electrotherapy modalities to relieve pain
Results
Pain reduction, weight reduction, ambulation speed, and changes of Lequesne's index were greater in patients in subgroups a and b than in subgroup c after treatment Although the last pain scores in subgroup b were less than those in subgroup a, as measured by a visual analog scale (VAS), there was no significant difference between their functional status Significant pain relief (VAS < 2) and an acceptable functional status (Lequesne's index < 7) were indicated when weight reduction was more than 15% and 12%, respectively, of the initial body weight of the individual
Conclusion
Weight reduction was found to be a practical adjuvant treatment in the rehabilitation of patients with knee osteoarthritis
97 citations
TL;DR: It is suggested that acupuncture may help to regulate weight owing to its beneficial effects on hormones such as insulin, leptin, ghrelin and CCK in obese subjects even after a few weeks of treatment.
Abstract: Background Obesity is an energy balance problem caused by overeating. Obesity treatment includes diet, exercise, behaviour treatment, pharmacotherapy and surgery; in addition, acupuncture is also an option. Objective To investigate the effect of acupuncture on weight loss and whether a brief acupuncture treatment of 5 weeks can change circulating levels of leptin, ghrelin, insulin and cholecystokinin (CCK) in obese women. Methods 40 women with a body mass index (BMI)>30 kg/m 2 were equally randomised to either an acupuncture group or a sham (nonpenetrating) acupuncture group and received treatment at LI4, HT7, ST36, ST44 and SP6 bilaterally. Both groups had two sessions of 20 min/week for a total of 10 sessions. Serum insulin, leptin, plasma ghrelin and CCK levels were measured by ELISA. Results Acupuncture treatment decreased insulin and leptin levels and induced weight loss, together with a decrease in BMI compared with sham acupuncture. Furthermore, between-group analyses demonstrated increases in plasma ghrelin and CCK levels in subjects who received acupuncture treatment. Conclusion These fi ndings suggest that acupuncture may help to regulate weight owing to its benefi cial effects on hormones such as insulin, leptin, ghrelin and CCK in obese subjects even after a few weeks of treatment.
68 citations
TL;DR: Reduced serum leptin levels paralleling to weight loss were observed and it is thought that in the EA applied group, increasing serum BE level probably enhanced the lipolitic activity which may have caused weight loss in obese people by mobilizing energy stores.
Abstract: This study aims to investigate the role of changes in leptin and beta endorphin (BE) levels in weight loss following electroacupuncture (EA) application in obesity treatment. EA was applied to 20 females who were 41.45 ± 4.71 years old and had a body mass index of 36.00 ± 2.66; and a diet program was applied to 20 females who were 42.30 ± 4.35 years old and had a body mass index of 34.90 ± 3.21. There was a 4.5% weight reduction in the patients with EA application, whereas patients on diet restriction had a 3.1% weight reduction. A decrease of loss of body weight was observed in the EA group (p < 0.000) when compared against the diet restricted group. A decrease of serum leptin levels (p < 0.000) and an increase in the serum BE (p < 0.05) levels were observed in the EA group compared to the diet restricted group. In this study, reduced serum leptin levels paralleling to weight loss were observed in the EA group. Furthermore, it is thought that in the EA applied group, increasing serum BE level probably enhanced the lipolitic activity which may have caused weight loss in obese people by mobilizing energy stores. It may be considered that the EA application with diet restriction in obesity treatment is more effective than the diet restriction alone.
64 citations
Cites background from "Preliminary results of triple thera..."
...The use of appetite suppressant drugs or surgery intervention may not be effective in the long term treatment of obesity (Huang et al., 1996)....
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...As a result, weakness and psychiatric symptoms may develop because of the negative nitrogen balance (Huang et al., 1996)....
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