The effect of therapeutic massage on patients with obesity: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Background: Obesity is related to various diseases such as endocrine metabolism and cardiovascular diseases. We provide an evidence-based evaluation for the effect of massage on patients with obesity. Methods: Relevant literature published in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and other databases were searched until October 2023. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4. A p value less than 0.05 indicates a statistically significant difference. Results: Twelve studies were finally included. Compared with conventional therapy, massage therapy were more effective, mainly in terms of (1) weight [mean difference (MD) = -3.71, 95%CI = −6.51,-0.88]; (2) body mass index (BMI), [MD = −2.00, 95%CI = −3.38, −0.62]; (3) Waist circumference (WC), [MD = −6.24, 95%CI = −8.71, −3.77]; (4) total cholesterol (TC), [MD = −0.65, 95%CI = −1.08, −0.22]; (5) triglycerides (TG), [MD = −0.92, 95%CI = −1.37, −0.47]. Conclusion: Massage therapy may be more effective for patients with obesity than conventional treatment. Given the number of studies and potential heterogeneity, more high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm our conclusions.

Keywords

• Massage
• Obesity
• Meta-analysis
• Randomized controlled trial