title: Effect of laser acupuncture on obesity: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity-related diseases have a profound economic impact on health care systems. Laser acupuncture has been shown to have beneficial effects on obesity. However, to our knowledge, those trials were either non-randomized, non-blinded or included low-calorie diet control. We have, therefore, designed a patient-assessor-blinded, randomized, sham-controlled crossover trial to investigate the significance of laser acupuncture on obesity.
  
  
  METHODS
  104 subjects above 20 years of age with a body mass index (BMI) of over 25 kg/m(2) will be divided into 2 groups: experimental and control. Each subject will receive the treatment relevant to their group 3 times a week for 8 weeks. After 8 weeks of treatment the subject will enter a 2-week washout period, after which the subjects will switch groups. Measurements will include BMI, body fat percentage, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist circumference, hip circumference, skinfold thickness, thigh circumference, body fat, blood pressure, heart rate, hunger and the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study will provide the basis for future large-scale multicenter trials investigating the effects of laser acupuncture on obesity.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02167308 ; registration date: 14 June 2014.
authors.affiliation: Division of Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, 61363, Taiwan. acupmox@hotmail.com.|School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, 33302, Taiwan. acupmox@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Chi-Chuan
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, M5G 1L7, ON, Canada. at92001@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.affiliation: Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion Research Center, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Chiayi Campus, Chiayi, 61363, Taiwan. howellchang@gmail.com.|Department of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Chiayi Campus, Chiayi, 61363, Taiwan. howellchang@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Chia-Hao
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D050154:Adiposity; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D054023:Lasers, Semiconductor / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012107:Research Design; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss; D055815:Young Adult