Efficacy and Safety of Thread Embedding Acupuncture Combined With Auricular Acupuncture for Overweight and Obesity: Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Overweight or Obesity
- Sponsor
- University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City
- Enrollment
- 66
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Changes in body weight
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- 2 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
Overweight and obesity are chronic non-communicable diseases with a rapidly increasing global prevalence. They constitute risk factors for various chronic conditions, including cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, cancer, as well as musculoskeletal disorders and numerous other disorders, significantly impacting the quality of life.
Numerous non-pharmacological interventions have been employed in the management of these conditions. Particularly, Auricular acupuncture (AA) has been a widely used and established method for weight management, owing to its effectiveness, safety, and convenience. Recently, a novel therapy known as Thread embedding acupuncture (TEA) has also demonstrated efficacy in weight reduction. Several studies have shown a substantial increase in treatment effectiveness when combining TEA with other acupuncture therapies. However, there is currently no available data on the combination of TEA with AA.
This study is conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of combining TEA with AA compared with AA monotherapy in overweight and obesity.
Detailed Description
Eligible participants with overweight or obesity, defined according to the criteria set by The World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific Region (Body Mass Index \[BMI\] of 23 kg/m² or higher), will be enrolled and subsequently randomized into two groups: the intervention group (AA + TEA group) and the placebo group (AA + Sham-TEA group), with a 1:1 allocation ratio. In both groups, the intervention duration is eight weeks, with Auricular acupuncture (AA) administered weekly, along with recommended lifestyle modifications. For the intervention group, Thread embedding acupuncture (TEA) therapy will be added every two weeks, totaling four sessions during the eight-week period. Meanwhile, Sham-TEA will be administered in the placebo group. Data regarding body weight, BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, appetite, and adverse effects will be recorded immediately following randomization and weekly thereafter over the eight-week duration.
Investigators
Bui Pham Minh Man
Principal Investigator
University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •Simple overweight or obesity with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 23 kg/m2 or higher, following the criteria of The World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific Region.
- •Waist circumference of 90 cm or more for males, or 80 cm or more for females.
- •Voluntary informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria
- •Secondary obesity resulting from endocrine diseases or medication.
- •Presence of severe medical conditions (e.g., cardiovascular, hepatic, renal or others) that could potentially affect treatment outcomes as per researchers' assessments.
- •Current use of weight-affecting medications, including diabetes medications, endocrine medications, and medications for neurological psychiatric disorders.
- •Pregnancy, lactation, or recent childbirth within the past 6 months.
- •Severe mental and neurological conditions that may impact treatment compliance.
- •Alcohol or substance addiction.
- •History of hypersensitivity reactions to any form of acupuncture with needles or to Polydioxanone.
- •Existing injuries or lesions at the acupoints under investigation in this study.
- •Concurrent participation in other clinical trials or utilization of other weight reduction therapies.
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Changes in body weight
Time Frame: Assessments conducted at randomization and after each intervention week throughout the eight-week period (Week 0, Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, and Week 8)
The body weight of the participants will be collected by investigators in the morning after the participants' personal hygiene routine and before breakfast, with measurements in kilograms (kg).
Secondary Outcomes
- Changes in Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score for appetite(Assessments conducted at randomization and after each intervention week throughout the eight-week period (Week 0, Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, and Week 8))
- Changes in hip circumference(Assessments conducted at randomization and after each intervention week throughout the eight-week period (Week 0, Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, and Week 8))
- Changes in Body Mass Index (BMI)(Assessments conducted at randomization and after each intervention week throughout the eight-week period (Week 0, Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, and Week 8))
- Changes in the Food Cravings Questionnaire-Trait-reduced (FCQ-T-r) score(Assessments conducted at randomization and after each intervention week throughout the eight-week period (Week 0, Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, and Week 8))
- Proportion of intervention-related adverse effects(Up to eight weeks)
- Changes in waist circumference(Assessments conducted at randomization and after each intervention week throughout the eight-week period (Week 0, Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, and Week 8))
- Changes in waist-hip ratio(Assessments conducted at randomization and after each intervention week throughout the eight-week period (Week 0, Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, and Week 8))