Acupuncture is thought to help promote weight loss in obese patients by influencing hormonal communication with the nervous system, appetite control, and metabolic balance. Research suggests that acupuncture may modulate the hypothalamus—the brain region involved in hunger and satiety—while also affecting hormones such as leptin, ghrelin, insulin, and cortisol, which play key roles in appetite regulation, fat storage, and stress-related eating. Additionally, acupuncture may enhance a part of the nervous system that helps to reduce stress, improve sleep, and curb emotional or compulsive eating behaviors. The following review "briefly introduces these mechanisms of hypothalamic neural circuits underlying appetite and energy homeostasis, and probes potential targets for the treatment of obesity" with Acupuncture.
Mechanism of Action of Acupuncture in Obesity: A Perspective From the Hypothalamus - PMC
The following abstract is an analysis of 11 randomized controlled trials with a total of 338 participants in the acupuncture group and 305 participants in the sham acupuncture* group.
Acupuncture for the treatment of obesity in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis - PubMed
The results of the analysis showed that auricular and electro acupuncture was beneficial and reduced body mass index (BMI)** and waist circumference*** in obese patients.Acupuncture is a valuable option for patients seeking a well-tolerated, holistic weight-management approach that addresses both the biological and behavioral contributors to obesity.
Terminology:
*Sham acupuncture - Sham acupuncture is a procedure that is intended to be a placebo in which the patient believes they are receiving true Acupuncture, but the needles do not penetrate the skin, or the needles are not placed in the appropriate location for therapeutic benefit.
** Body Mass Index - Obesity can be diagnosed by body mass index, abbreviated BMI. For most people, BMI is a reasonable estimate of body fat, calculated using height and weight. However, BMI may not be a good estimate for muscular athletes, in which the BMI is elevated in the obesity range but does not have excess body fat. There are many BMI calculators online that can calculate one's BMI. The basic calculation is multiplying one's weight in pounds by 703, then dividing by one's height in inches, and then dividing by it again.
General guidelines for BMI:
Obesity: 30 - 39.9
Severe obesity: 40 and higher
***Waist circumference - There are two types of fat distribution: subcutaneous and visceral. Subcutaneous fat lies just beneath the skin and is visible in the hips, thighs, buttocks, arms, and face. Visceral fat lies within the abdomen and pads the spaces between the organs. Visceral fat is the most concerning type of weight gain because high amounts of visceral fat are strongly associated with high blood pressure, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, heart disease, and stroke. Clinicians estimate patients' risk by measuring waist circumference. Weight-related health problems are more common in men with a waist circumference over 40 inches and in women with a waist circumference over 35 inches.
References:
Wang L, Yu CC, Li J, Tian Q, Du YJ. Mechanism of Action of Acupuncture in Obesity: A Perspective From the Hypothalamus. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2021 Apr 2;12:632324. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2021.632324. PMID: 33868169; PMCID: PMC8050351.
Zhang, R. Q., Tan, J., Li, F. Y., Ma, Y. H., Han, L. X., & Yang, X. L. (2017). Acupuncture for the treatment of obesity in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Postgraduate medical journal, 93(1106), 743–751.
