Acupuncture for obesity：study protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Yang Wang,
Xiong-Fei Pan,
Lei Zhou,
Xinyu Zhao,
Xiaoyi Li,
TianMin Zhu,
Shanshan Zhang,
Nianwei Wu,
Shiyi Wu,
Peiqun Hu,
Ximei Chen,
Aiming Wei,
Chongsheng Pan,
Yunlu Liu,
Benxiang He,
Yushi Hu
Affiliations
Yang Wang
3 Postdoctoral Workstation, Affiliated Sport Hospital of Chengdu Sport University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Xiong-Fei Pan
4 Section of Epidemiology and Population Health & Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children & National Medical Products Administration Key Laboratory for Technical Research on Drug Products In Vitro and In Vivo Correlation, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Lei Zhou
6 School of Health Preservation and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Xinyu Zhao
1 School of Acupuncture and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Xiaoyi Li
1 School of Acupuncture and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
TianMin Zhu
6 School of Health Preservation and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Shanshan Zhang
4 Section of Epidemiology and Population Health & Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children & National Medical Products Administration Key Laboratory for Technical Research on Drug Products In Vitro and In Vivo Correlation, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Nianwei Wu
4 Section of Epidemiology and Population Health & Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children & National Medical Products Administration Key Laboratory for Technical Research on Drug Products In Vitro and In Vivo Correlation, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Shiyi Wu
4 Section of Epidemiology and Population Health & Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children & National Medical Products Administration Key Laboratory for Technical Research on Drug Products In Vitro and In Vivo Correlation, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Peiqun Hu
2 School of Sports Medicine and Health, Chengdu Sport University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Ximei Chen
2 School of Sports Medicine and Health, Chengdu Sport University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Aiming Wei
6 School of Health Preservation and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Chongsheng Pan
6 School of Health Preservation and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Yunlu Liu
7 Institute of Laboratory Animal Sciences, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Benxiang He
8 Sichuan Academy of Chinese Medicine Sciences, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Yushi Hu
2 School of Sports Medicine and Health, Chengdu Sport University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Background Obesity is a major public health issue in China and around the world. While acupuncture is often used in clinical practice, there is a lack of conclusive evidence for its weight-loss effect. Thus we will conduct a parallel, randomised, sham-controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for treating obesity.Methods and analysis A total of 160 eligible participants with obesity will be randomly assigned to the verum acupuncture group or sham acupuncture group at a ratio of 1:1. All participants will be treated three times a week for a duration of 12 weeks, and followed up for another 16 weeks. The primary outcome is the percentage change in body weight from baseline to Week 12. The secondary outcomes include body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), body fat percentage (BF%), blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, insulin, glycosylated haemoglobin A1c, blood lipids, and physical functioning score on the Short Form 36 Health Survey. Other secondary outcomes including psychological and social functions will also be evaluated using the body image scale, psychological function scale, and social function scale of the BODY-Q, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire. BMI, WC, BF% and blood pressure will be evaluated at Week 0, 4, 8, 12 and 28. Other secondary outcomes will be measured at Week 0, 12 and 28, respectively. Adverse events will be recorded in detail during the trial.Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval of this trial was granted by the Ethics Committee of Chengdu Sport University (2023–102). Written informed consent will be obtained from study participants before enrolment. The findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration number Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2200062092).
