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Acupuncture Treatment For Weight-Loss
Acupuncture has often been associated with appetite control and weight loss.1 In particular auricular acupuncture is a commonly used therapy to control appetite.2
RESEARCH
Fat cells, or adipocytes as they are scientifically referred to, secrete many inflammatory cytokines which when in abundance can cause systemic chronic inflammation. Two of the most important examples of these cytokines are tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL6) which studies have correlated directly with cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, and diabetes when in higher than normal concentrations. Therefore the more overweight a person is the more adipocytes they may have and the more risk they are of internal inflammation, and in turn may be at risk of certain chronic diseases.1
Acupuncture is believed to have anti-inflammatory effects due to its ability to stimulate the sympathetic and parasympathetic pathways. As well as the more obvious effects of this on immune-related conditions (eg. autoimmune diseases, allergic disorders, immunodeficiency), acupuncture may also have an effect on obesity through its influence on TNF-α and IL6’s pathways.1
Obesity may be measured through an individual’s waist circumference which ultimately is an indication of the amount of subcutaneous fat tissue in the abdomen. It is thought that acupuncture can stimulate the redistribution of this fat tissue and even cause adipocyte death through lysis. However studies focused on waist circumference have only included small sample sizes and have not explored different forms of acupuncture therapy in detail.1
Ghrelin is a hormone with multiple functions relating to energy metabolism by regulating gastrointestinal functions, but is more colloquially known as the ‘hunger hormone’ due to its function of controlling appetite. Some studies have shown that acupuncture treatment can have substantial effects on the level of active ghrelin. Alongside this, changes in body weight may also be observed.2
Acupuncture is well known for promoting feelings of wellbeing and this is usually linked to how it is able to stimulate the release of neurotransmitters serotonin and other endorphins. As well as being mood enhancing, these neurotransmitters can also contribute to feelings of being full after food and appetite suppression.1 It is believed that certain acupuncture points can stimulate the vagus nerve and the lateral hypothalamic area of the brain, which in turn has an inhibitory effect on the neuronal activity in the satiety centre. This can cause a decrease in the amount of food ingested and bring about weight loss. This pathway has also been linked with ghrelin.2 Research in this area is still ongoing so although these pathways are well established, the exact effect of acupuncture on them is still unclear and remains only a theory at the moment.
Other biomarkers which acupuncture has been studied scantly but may be a good starting point for future research are anti-heat-shock-protein antibodies, c-reactive protein, free fatty acids and cholesterol (HDL and LDL).3
Of the studies that do conclude that acupuncture does have an effect on weight, these studies often measure the effect of acupuncture in different ways so are not directly comparable, and those that are have not been replicable. Therefore it must be assumed that more research in this area is needed before acupuncture can be seriously considered to significantly influence weight loss.1 2
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Footnotes
- Abou Ismail L. Effect of Acupuncture on Body Weight Reduction and Inflammatory Mediators in Egyptian Obese Patients. Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences. 2015;.
- Abdi H, Zhao B, Darbandi M, Ghayour-Mobarhan M, Tavallaie S, Rahsepar A et al. The Effects of Body Acupuncture on Obesity: Anthropometric Parameters, Lipid Profile, and Inflammatory and Immunologic Markers. The Scientific World Journal. 2012;2012:1-11.
- Abdi H, Zhao B, Darbandi M, Ghayour-Mobarhan M, Tavallaie S, Rahsepar A et al. The Effects of Body Acupuncture on Obesity: Anthropometric Parameters, Lipid Profile, and Inflammatory and Immunologic Markers. The Scientific World Journal. 2012;2012:1-11.