Acupuncture And Weight Loss: Does It Work?

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese remedy that involves the insertion of fine needles into specific points on the body that affect the energy flow, or qi. The needles are very small and it is not painful, although you can feel a slight tingling sensation. Some people swear by acupuncture for weight loss and general health – but does it work?

What happens in an acupuncture clinic?

Acupuncture is less about treating specific illnesses than about seeing your body as a holistic system. An acupuncturist will ask you about your lifestyle and habits as well as your symptoms before they recommend treatment. The aim is to redirect the flow of energy in your body to trigger your natural healing response, and to increase your overall wellness.

The body has more than 400 different acupuncture points distributed along the 14 major meridians which carry energy around the body. The most used points are in the arms, legs and feet. The Chinese belief is that illness is caused by the disruption of energy flowing through the meridians, and acupuncture balances the flow again and prompts healing.

An acupuncturist will examine you to determine which points to use, and then gradually insert the needles in different combinations. You will be asked to lie still on the table with the needles in you for around 30 minutes, and they may move the needles or pulse a low level of electricity through them. Many people find the process very relaxing, especially in a room with low light and soothing music.

Acupuncture has been used by many people as a treatment for back pain, headaches, joint problems or nausea, and there are some links between acupuncture and weight loss. Scientific trials and systematic reviews have not reached any firm conclusions about how effective acupuncture is, and some of the benefits might just be the placebo effect.

Get a recommendation from your doctor if you're trying it as a cure and keep using your standard medical care at the same time.

Is it any good for slimming down?

Extensive research into the link between acupuncture and weight loss has been conducted over the years, but the results conflict with each other. This could be because an acupuncturist will usually advise diet and lifestyle changes as well as the sessions with needles, so it's difficult to tell exactly what is causing any changes.

A randomized cross-over study published in the Eating and Weight Disorders Journal in 2015 tested the effects of acupuncture on weight loss on thirty-five overweight or obese men and women. The subjects received nutritional counseling and either acupuncture or sham acupuncture, although the researchers concluded only that there was enough evidence to make larger-scale research worthwhile.

More concrete findings came out of a trial from the American Journal of Chinese Medicine in 2010. This study used acupressure, similar to acupuncture, on the ears of overweight people aged 18-20. One group were given Japanese Magnetic Pearls, one vaccaria seeds, and the control group had nothing. Weight increased in the control group but decreased in the other two groups, with the vaccaria seed group showing the greatest decrease.

The results from acupuncture which uses electricity also look promising. Electricity stimulates the muscles and improves the flow of blood around the body, which may promote weight loss. A study in the Journal of Physical Therapy Science on the effects of high-frequency current therapy found that women who hadn't changed their diet or exercise had smaller waists, less abdominal fat and a lower body fat percentage after the treatment.

It's possible that not only can acupuncture help you lose weight, it can make you healthier. Another experiment in the American Journal of Chinese Medicine in 2005 tested electroacupuncture on obese women and measured not only their weight loss but cholesterol and triglyceride levels before and after.

Those who had electroacupuncture lost 4.8% of their body weight, compared to the women following a restricted diet who lost only 2.5% of their body weight. The acupuncture group reduced their overall cholesterol and triglycerides by the same amounts as the diet group, and their level of LDL cholesterol was significantly lower.

It's probable that at the very least acupuncture helps people shore up their willpower and stick to their diets better, or it may be that the increased energy and feeling of wellness makes it easier to work out and shed their excess fat. Even if the relationship between acupuncture and weight loss is only the placebo effect, it seems the placebo effect can be pretty powerful.

Is it dangerous?

Not at all. The very small number of cases where people got sick from acupuncture were infections from needles that hadn't been sterilized properly. You might be a little sore where the needles were inserted, but that's completely normal. Tell your acupuncturist if you're pregnant, have a pacemaker or are taking blood thinners, and they will let you know if acupuncture is safe for you.

Beware of anyone who makes bold claims about guaranteed weight loss with acupuncture or who seems to be exaggerating the possible results. Some disreputable places will try to suck you in with claims that they have no evidence for. Those who want to discuss your weight loss as part of your general health and fitness and probably the most reliable.

Just like with any other treatment, you want to choose an experienced practitioner who is a member of their professional body, like the American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. If you're at all worried about hygiene then go to a clinic where they dispose of the needles after each session instead of sterilizing them.

While no one is sure what's going on or how acupuncture and weight loss are related, it's clear that for some people it's an effective aid to weight loss when it's part of a healthy lifestyle and good habits. You've got nothing to lose by giving it a go, and a whole new body to gain if it works for you.