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.
Community Medicine Research Center and Institute of Public Health, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chung-Hua
CH
Hsu
Kung-Chang
KC
Hwang
Chung-Liang
CL
Chao
Hen-Hong
HH
Chang
Pesus
P
Chou
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