Obesity
Conditions
Keywords
acupuncture, Chinese Medicine, obesity
Brief summary
In this study, a 18-week, single-blinded, randomized controlled clinical trial will be conducted to evaluate the effectiveness, efficacy and safety of acupuncture on weight control in Hong Kong.
Detailed description
This is a pilot single-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trial. 72 participants will be randomly assigned to acupuncture group or control group. The duration of the treatment will be 8 weeks with 2 sessions per week and the follow-up period will be 8 weeks.
Interventions
PROCEDUREAcupuncture
Eight body acupuncture points will be chosen as Tianshu(ST-25), Daheng(SP-15), Daimai(GB-26), Qihai(CV-6), Zhongwan(CV-12), Zusanli(ST-36), Fenlong(ST-40), Sanyinjiao(SP-6). The needles will be retained for 30 minutes. Participants of the treatment group will additionally receive unilateral auricular acupressure at four auricular points as Hunger, Shen men, Spleen and Stomach with Semen Vaccariae embedded within adhesive tape in each treatment session. Acupressure will be applied by the subjects with repeat pressing of the tape with fingertips for 3 minutes per point, 3 times per day. The embedded tape will be retained in-situ until the next visit and then the alternate side of ear will be treated.
Sponsors
Hong Kong Baptist University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* aged between 18 and 65 years old; * body mass index (BMI)≥25 kg/m2; * having not received any other weight control measures or any medical and/or drug history within the last 3 months.
Exclusion criteria
* endocrine diseases; * heart diseases; * patients with pacemaker; * allergy and immunology diseases; * having bleeding tendency; * pregnant or lactating women; * having impaired hepatic or renal function; * stroke or otherwise unable to exercise.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in body weight during treatment and follow up | The change in body weight will be assessed every two weeks during 8-week treatment and 8-week follow up | measured by Omron KARADA Scan Body Composition & Scale |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Body Mass Index (BMI) during treatment and follow up | The change in BMI will be assessed every two weeks during 8-week treatment and 8-week follow up | The change in Body Mass Index (BMI) will be measured by Omron KARADA Scan Body Composition & Scale |
| Change in waist circumference during treatment and follow up | The change in waist circumference will be assessed every two weeks during 8-week treatment and 8-week follow up | — |
| Change in hip circumference | The change in hip circumference will be assessed every two weeks during 8-week treatment and 8-week follow up | — |
| Change in body fat percentage during treatment and follow up | The change in body fat percentage will be assessed every two weeks during 8-week treatment and 8-week follow up | The change in body fat percentage will be measured by Omron KARADA Scan Body Composition & Scale |
| Number of patients with adverse events after treatment | Number of patients with adverse events after treatment will be recorded and compared among the two groups during 8-week treatment and 8-week follow up | — |
Outcome results
None listed