title: The effects of auricular electroacupuncture on obesity in female patients--a prospective randomized placebo-controlled pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity is a chronic condition related to serious morbidity and mortality of increasing incidence and prevalence. Several studies show a significantly higher weight loss with acupuncture treatment. This is the first prospective, randomized, double-blinded study, testing the effects of auricular electroacupuncture on weight loss in obese female patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  56 female obese patients (age>18, Body Mass Index, BMI>25) were randomized to receive either auricular acupuncture with electrical stimulation with a P-Stim® device (verum group, n=28) or placebo treatment with a P-Stim® dummy (n=28) for four days. Three auricular acupuncture points were chosen (hunger 18, stomach 87 and colon 91). The treatment was performed once a week for a period of six weeks. A follow-up visit was performed after 4 weeks. At each visit body weight, BMI (Body Mass Index) and body fat were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Relative reduction of body weight was significantly greater in the verum group (-3.73%; CI=-4.70 to -2.76) than in the placebo group (-0.70%; CI=-1.57 to +0.16; p<0.001) In addition we also observed a significant reduction of BMI (p<0.001) in the verum group (-3.62%; CI=-4.39 to -2.84) compared to placebo (-0.82%; CI=-1.55 to -0.10; p<0.001). No patient reported side effects related to acupuncture.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion electrical auricular acupuncture could be a safe, additive, non-pharmacological treatment in obese patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Special Anaesthesia and Pain Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: regina.schukro@meduniwien.ac.at.
authors.forename: Regina Patricia
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Schukro
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, General Hospital Steyr, Steyr, Austria.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Heiserer
authors.affiliation: Department of Special Anaesthesia and Pain Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Michalek-Sauberer
authors.affiliation: Center for Medical Statistics, Informatics, and Intelligent Systems, Medical University Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gleiss
authors.affiliation: Department of Special Anaesthesia and Pain Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sator-Katzenschlager
mesh_terms: D020831:Acupuncture, Ear / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies
keywords: Auricular acupuncture; Electroacupuncture; Obesity