Introduction
Using acupuncture to lose weight
Some acupuncturists believe that acupuncture is a very effective method of losing weight. On the other hand, most of the scientific community - especially the branch of dietetics, nutrition and human nutrition - considers this technique totally ineffective.
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a form of oriental alternative medicine that is based on the skin graft, in a small area or a large part of the body surface, of very thin and pointed needles.
Theory and practice of acupuncture are not based on the scientific criteria of western medicine, but on the flow of vital energy (qi) that crosses the body meridians, in relation to which acupuncture points are identified. For this reason, even if many modern acupuncturists deny the traditional foundations (claiming to operate in the field of reflexology), this technique is not considered a science, but a pseudoscience.
Actually speaking generically about acupuncture is rather reductive; there are many different philosophies and techniques, which vary considerably depending on the origin.
In the West the most widespread acupuncture method is without that of traditional Chinese medicine; not by chance acupuncture was born in China, approximately in 100 BC In the United States, Chinese acupuncture is used, in combination with scientific medicine, mainly in pain therapy; other applications are: to quit smoking, to stimulate the secretion of some glands, against impotence, etc.
To avoid any controversy on the matter, we will limit ourselves to mentioning that the study (systematic review) currently considered more in-depth (Acupuncture: Does it alleviate pain and are there serious risks? A review of reviews) has found little evidence of acupuncture efficacy, also in the treatment of pain.
The most recent works do not dissociate themselves from this conclusion.
Effectiveness
Acupuncture effectiveness for weight loss
At the beginning of the 20th century, it was assumed that acupuncture could have positive effects on weight loss. Efficacy has been tested several times by acupuncturists on western research samples of people declared overweight; it was found that acupuncture has no direct impact on weight loss.
However the community of acupuncturists remains "on the defensive" and leaves the doors open to every application, claiming that the effect of the treatment can vary from person to person, since there are different causes that lead to being overweight. In Chinese medicine, the acupuncturists explain, the excess weight is attributed to dozens of different reasons.
In the studies carried out acupuncture should have been applied specifically on the cause and then adapted to the subject. However the overweight causes recognized by Chinese medicine are in stark contrast to those recognized by Western medicine. To be able to evaluate concretely the slimming effect of acupuncture in scientific terms it would therefore be necessary to find a correspondence between the eastern and the western diagnosis. On the other hand, it is extremely difficult to group a sufficiently large number of patients whose problem is recognized by both sides. This is why the studies carried out so far should not be considered totally indicative.
Action mechanism
Acupuncturists admit that the most frequent cases of rapid and objective weight loss concern body fluids. Acupuncture, they say, is very effective in counteracting water retention; therefore, sometimes there is an almost immediate weight loss of 3-5 kg.
A good result if we think that it is more or less the same effect obtained with a month of nutritional therapy associated with the motor one. However, it should not be forgotten that weight loss, as such, must relate to adipose tissue and not body water and should be repeated indiscriminately on any overweight person.
Always based on what the acupuncturists claim, the best results would be obtained in association with diet and sport; unfortunately in this way it is not possible to quantify the impact of acupuncture on overall weight loss.
Safety
Is acupuncture a safe method?
Acupuncture is generally considered safe, as long as it is performed by an appropriately trained operator, who respects appropriate hygiene standards and uses disposable needles.
Acupuncture side effects
If practiced correctly, acupuncture has a low rate of side effects, which are mostly small.
On the other hand, serious injuries and infections are associated with technical misconduct and hygienic negligence.
A scientific review (Atypical mycobacterias associated with acupuncuture: an integrative review) reported that, over the past decade, acupuncture has been correlated with the increase in transmission of infections.
Another important and statistically related complication of acupuncture is pneumothorax, which is more frequent on subjects who undergo treatment in the thoracic area.
Conclusions
Does acupuncture make you lose weight?
No, acupuncture does not make you lose weight. There are no "magic points" to stimulate that reduce hunger or increase metabolism.
Wanting to find a useful application of acupuncture in the fight against overweight, we could say that it is a practice that consolidates and supports the motivation necessary to continue the long path of diet and motor activity, but nothing more.
