Clinical observation on acupuncture treatment for simple obesity in children
Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture treatment for children with simple obesity characterized by stomach heat and dampness blockage.Methods A total of 120 children diagnosed with simple obesity(stomach-heat and dampness-blockage type)were randomly assigned into two groups by an online random method,each consisting of 60 participants:a control group receiving dietary and exercise management,and an observation group that additionally received acupuncture therapy.After a treatment period of 12 weeks,we compared the clinical outcomes as well as changes in obesity indexes(body weight,body fat percentage,and body mass index),traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scores,leptin levels,and serum insulin between the two groups.Results(1)The overall effective rate of the observation group was 86.7%(52/60),significantly higher that that of the control group(40.0%,24/60),the difference being of statistical significance(P<0.05).(2)Both treatment regimens exhibited statistically significant differences in their effects on body weight,BMI,body fat percentage,TCM syndrome scores,insulin and leptin levels among children with simple obesity(P<0.05),which showed that combining acupuncture with dietary management plus exercise was superior to solely diet management plus exercise.Conclusion Acupuncture therapy is an effective intervention for childhood simple obesity;it markedly improves body weight,BMI,body fat percentage and TCM syndrome scores,whose mechanism may be related to improving glucose metabolism and leptin resistance,and inhibiting appetite.
Simple obesityStomach-heat and dampness-blockage typeAcupunctureChild