Aim: Common
treatment options for obesity include a reduced-calorie diet, increased physical
activity, behavioral modification, pharmacotherapy, and surgery. Ear
acupressure may also be an effective adjunct therapy. Methods: This study used a randomized controlled design to test
the effectiveness of auricular acupressure for weight reduction in young,
Taiwanese adults with a BMI ≥ 23 kg/m2. Sixty-eight participants
aged 18 to 20 years were recruited from Taiwanese universities at the beginning
of the study. After four weeks of auricular therapy, the total sample included
57 young adults. All participants met one time per week for ten minutes. The
treatment group received ear acupressure treatment with Semen Vaccariae sticks on
auricular acupoints while the control group had adhesive tape placed on ear
acupoints, change in BMI from baseline to trial completion. Results: BMI in controls increased
significantly by +0.0133 kg/m2 (P = 0.000) while the intervention
group BMI decreased significantly by ?0.8022 kg/m2 (P ≤ 0.0001). Conclusions:
Just four weeks of auricular acupressure by Semen Vaccariae, sticks may significantly
help to decrease BMI among young adults.
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