Evaluation of anthropometric results after acupuncture and diet applications in obesity patients:an experimental-control study

Obesity is a disease defined by excessive fat storage in the body. It is an energy balance problem; the increase in body fat is caused by an imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure. This study aimed to determinate the changes in the anthropometric measurements of patients after acupuncture treatment used in obesity treatment. The present study was a cross-sectional study conducted in 2019 in xxx University's GETAT Center). Patients aged between 18–65 years with a BMI > 25 were included in the study. The participants were divided into two groups: Group 1 (acupuncture and diet) and Group 2 (diet only). Exclusion criteria: Pregnant women, breastfeeding patients , susceptible demographics (acute coronary insufficiency, immunodeficiency, severe psychotic disorder, liver and kidney failure), and those who could not give consent were not included in the study. Weight, BMI, and metabolic age values were measured with a Tanita device; the same diagnostic device was used for all patients. Both body and ear acupuncture were performed. In patients with all acupuncture, the yuan points of abnormal meridians were used for pulse diagnosis. ST 24, 25, and 36 (ZuSanLi); GV 20, 21, 5, 5, and LR 3 (Taichong); SP 6 and 9, GB 34, UB 62, HT 7, LU 9, and PC 6 (Nei Guan); and SI 3 and EXT-HN 3 (Yin-Tang) points were dewed. For ear acupuncture, hunger, kidney, larynx, stomach, jerome, and shen-men points were taken. A t-test was applied to pre- and post-acupuncture measurement values. After acupuncture, the waist circumference of the participants decreased significantly (p < 0.005). The BMI of the participants also decreased significantly after acupuncture (p < 0.005). In these studies, LU 6, ST 40, ST 21, K 4, ST 36 and 25, and LI 11 body points were used, while hunger, stomach, and shen-men points were commonly used as ear points.