Comparison of Therapeutic Effects Between Electroacupuncture and Thread-Embedded Acupuncture in Obese Patients Undergoing a Dietary Intervention.

Objective: Obesity is an epidemic with an increasing prevalence in developing countries. The condition affects almost all physiologic functions of the body and is a significant threat to public health. Treatment of obesity is often difficult and expensive. Pharmacologic therapy has many side-effects. Acupuncture, a nonpharmacologic therapy, has shown promising results for treating obesity. Electroacupuncture (EA) and thread-embedded acupuncture (TEA) can be used. The aim of this study was to analyze the therapeutic effects of EA and TEA, using polydioxanone (PDO), on weight loss, waist circumference, and plasma-leptin concentrations in obese patients undergoing a dietary intervention.

Materials and methods: This single-blinded, randomized clinical trial randomized 34 subjects into 2 groups: EA and TEA. In the EA group, EA was administered 3 times per week for 4 weeks (a total of 12 sessions). In the TEA group, EA was administered only once. Body weight and waist circumference were measured at baseline, and on days 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 (end) of the trial. Plasma-leptin concentrations were measured at the beginning and end of the trial.

Results: There was a significant decrease in body weight and waist circumference in the groups before and after treatment (P < 0.001), and a significant decrease in plasma-leptin concentrations in the EA (P = 0.012) and TEA groups (P = 0.001). There were no significant differences between the groups in weight loss (P = 0.621), waist circumference (P = 0.545), and plasma-leptin concentration (P = 0.784).

Conclusions: EA and PDO TEA are equally effective for reducing body weight, waist circumference, and plasma-leptin concentrations in obese patients undergoing dietary interventions. However, TEA is more time-efficient than EA.