The effects of triple therapy (acupuncture, diet and exercise) on body weight: a randomized, clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of diet and exercise vs acupuncture, diet and exercise on the body weight and related parameters of adult women.

METHODS

Twenty-seven obese women with a body fat percentage of more than 30% were randomized into three groups. The first experimental group had diet and exercise, whereas the second experimental group had diet, exercise and acupuncture. The control group received no intervention at all. The study period lasted for 8 weeks. Body weight, skin fold thickness, body mass index and fat mass were measured before and after 8 weeks.

RESULTS

Body mass index and fat mass, decreased significantly (P<0.05) in both experimental groups when compared with the control group. However, there was no significant difference between the two experimental groups. Changes in lean body mass after 8 weeks were not significantly different from those in the control group.

CONCLUSION

It is concluded that acupuncture combined with diet and exercise does not generate larger reductions in body weight, fat mass or body mass index than diet and exercise alone.