This study examines the effects of acupuncture as a treatment option for weight loss in obesity.

Weight loss is a complex health issue. There is more than just a bad diet to it. Decreased insulin resistance, increased stress hormone cortisol levels, erratic/insufficient sleep or sleep disorders to name a few.

The present study summarises the studies on the effects of acupuncture application on obesity.

Some studies have shown that acupuncture application in obesity treatment is effective for weight loss. This natural treatment can regulate appetite, intestinal motility, and metabolism, as well as factors such as stress and sleep.

Additionally acupuncture has number of other effects conductive to slimming:

increases neural activity in the ventromedial nuclei of the hypothalamus,
boosts activity in of smooth muscle of the stomach,
ups levels of enkephalin,
boosts beta endorphin,
increases serotonin in plasma and brain tissue.

Application of acupuncture to obese people increases excitability of the satiety centre in the ventromedial nuclei of the hypothalamus. Additionally it stimulates the auricular branch of the vagal nerve and raises serotonin levels. Both of these activities have been shown to increase tone in the smooth muscle of the stomach, thus suppressing appetite.

Among other beneficial effects, serotonin enhances intestinal motility. It controls stress and depression via endorphin and dopamine production.

In addition to these effects, it is thought that the increase in plasma levels of beta endorphin following acupuncture treatment can contribute to the body weight loss because it helps mobilize the body’s energy depots through lipolithic effect.

Last but not least, as reported in 2019, acupuncture reduces insulin resistance.

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