Electroacupuncture in obese women: a randomized, controlled pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effects of electroacupuncture and sit-up exercise on reducing body weight (BW) and waist circumference (WC) among obese women.


METHODS
A randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted from July 1, 2002, to June 30, 2003, in the outpatient department of Taipei Hospital, Taiwan. The subjects were 72 obese women, with WC>90 cm and body mass index (BMI)>30 kg/m2 and who had not received any other weight control maneuver within the prior 3 months. The subjects were randomly divided into groups A, B, and C. Group A (n=22) received electroacupuncture, group B (n=20) was assigned sit-up exercises, and group C (n=21) received no intervention. All three treatments lasted for 6 weeks. The measurements of BW, BMI, and WC were performed in the beginning and after 6 weeks. The data were compared and expressed as percent reductions.


RESULTS
Electroacupuncture showed significantly greater percent reductions in BW (p=0.009, 0.004), BMI (p=0.008, 0.016), and WC (p=0.013, 0.006) compared with sit-up exercises or no intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
In this pilot study, electroacupuncture treatment was more effective than situp exercise or no intervention in reducing BW, BMI, and WC.
Hsu
Chung-Hua
CH
Community Medicine Research Center and Institute of Public Health, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Hwang
Kung-Chang
KC
Chao
Chung-Liang
CL
Chang
Hen-Hong
HH
Chou
Pesus
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D015671:Electroacupuncture / Q000379:methods*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012107:Research Design; D013624:Taiwan; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio; D016387:Women's Health