Thread Embedding Acupuncture Therapy for Weight Loss

Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18-75
SponsorBeijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine

About this trial

Obesity is the most prevalent chronic disease worldwide, affecting approximately 800 million adults. Excess adiposity and its numerous complications, including cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, impose a considerable economic burden and constitute major contributors to global morbidity and mortality. Treatments that result in substantial weight reductions may improve outcomes for people living with obesity. Thread embedding acupuncture which provides long-term acupoints stimulation may be an effective treatment option for obesity. However, effects of thread embedding on obesity remain uncertain because of the small sample sizes or other methodological limitations. The objective of this multi-center, randomized, sham-controlled trial is to assess the effect of thread embedding acupuncture for alleviating weight.

Eligibility criteria

Qualifiers

Body-mass index: a. BMI ≥ 28 kg/m2 or b. BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2 with the presence of at least one of the following weight-related complications (treated or untreated): diabetes, hypertension, lipid metabolism disorders, obstructive sleep apnea, cardiovascular disease, knee osteoarthritis, hyperuricemia, fatty liver;

Male or female, age between 18 and 75 years at the time of signing informed consent;

No history of receiving thread embedding treatment;

History of at least one self-reported unsuccessful dietary effort and exercise program to lose body weight;

Disqualifiers

A self-reported change in body weight ≥ 5 kg within 90 days before screening;

Treatment with any medication for the indication of obesity within the past 90 days before Screening;

Previous or planned (during the trial period) obesity treatment with surgery or a bodyweight loss device. However, the following were allowed: (1) liposuction and/or abdominoplasty, if performed more than 1 year before screening; (2) lap banding, if the band had been removed more than 1 year before screening; (3) intragastric balloon, if the balloon had been removed more than 1 year before screening; or (4) duodenal-jejunal bypass sleeve, if the sleeve had been removed more than 1 year before screening;

Have obesity induced by other endocrinologic disorders (for example, Cushing Syndrome) or diagnosed monogenetic or syndromic forms of obesity (for example, Melanocortin 4 Receptor deficiency or Prader Willi Syndrome);

Trial design

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Thread embedding acupuncture
  • Sham thread embedding acupuncture

Treatment groups

400 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groups