The study below is a systematic review and meta-analysis of 13 randomized controlled trials including 848 participants with simple obesity (obesity without other underlying diseases). The trials compared the weight loss effects of massage combined with lifestyle intervention (diet, exercise, and behavior changes) to those of lifestyle interventions alone. The results showed that massage plus lifestyle interventions significantly reduced body weight, body mass index*, waste circumference**, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, fasting insulin, and insulin resistance. The researchers concluded that massage combined with lifestyle intervention is more effective than lifestyle intervention alone for people with simple obesity.
Therefore, adding massage to lifestyle intervention may offer additional benefits for weight loss, metabolic health, and visceral fat reduction compared to lifestyle changes alone in people with simple obesity.
Terminology:
* 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 to multiply one's weight in pounds by 703, then divide by one's height in inches, and then divide 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 G, Ju H, Zhang Z, Wu X, Niu H, Zhang L, Chen L, Lou H, Yang Y. Comparative effectiveness of massage combined with lifestyle intervention and lifestyle intervention alone for simple obesity: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2025 Jan 10;104(2):e41074. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000041074. PMID: 39792739; PMCID: PMC11730106.