Ear acupuncture is a sharp incentive to shed pounds, study finds
EAR acupuncture could significantly aid weight loss, a Japanese study has suggested.
Researchers said the treatment could stimulate nerves and organs that regulate appetite, satiety and hunger, helping to control food cravings. The study involved 81 obese Japanese men who were given a type of acupuncture that attaches metal beads to six points on the outer ear.
They were given advice on diet during hospital visits and were asked to keep a food diary, while reducing their intake by half during three months of treatment.
The study found that, on average, participants lost four inches off their waistline (10.4 per cent) and 4 per cent of body fat, while Body Mass Index (BMI) decreased by almost three points.
Dr Takahiro Fujimoto, a researcher from Clinic F in Tokyo, said: “Our findings suggest that acupuncture on the ear may aid weight loss when paired with diet and exercise ... it’s likely that [it] has a positive effect by curbing cravings and appetite, improving digestion and boosting metabolism.”
However, other obesity experts questioned the findings saying that being given medical advice to lose weight may have been the real spur to success.
Study authors said it had limitations, not least being observational research done over a short time period. The technique used a simple method of acupuncture rather than traditional intradermal needles, which require an expert acupuncturist.
Dr Fujimoto added: “Since these tiny metal beads are attached to six points on the outer ear, this type of acupuncture does not require complex knowledge or skill.
“In Japan, this method to aid weight loss has been used for over 30 years.”
The study involved men aged between 21 and 78 with a BMI of 30 or more. The approach has been used to treat drug addiction and to help people give up smoking.
While the mechanism is unclear, studies suggests that ear acupuncture may help to regulate the endocrine system, modulate metabolism, promote digestion, and lessen oxidative stress.