Health problems resulting from overweight or obesity now affect more than 2 billion people worldwide. More than half of the European population is overweight and up to 30% is obese. In Switzerland, the number of obese people has more than doubled since 1980 and the rates are projected to increase at a faster pace by 2030. (5-6)
Obesity imposes devastating health and financial tolls on individuals and society. It is associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality from hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea and respiratory problems, fertility and some cancers. (6)
Lifestyle interventions and diets are foundational to the successful management of obesity, but often not sustainable. The solution for losing weight is much more complex than just eating less and do more physical exercise. Obesity is a very complex multidimensional and neuroendocrine problem. Therefore, there is a need for other strategies and acupuncture can be a safe and effective alternative.
Acupuncture can be an answer as a supplementary treatment to a diet in the management of obesity and weight control. Recent scientific evidence has shown that acupuncture regulates the autonomic nervous system and hormones and is effective to reduce the appetite and thus food intake. Acupuncture is recognized and recommended by the WHO for its clinical effectiveness and its safety and has no adverse effects. Acupuncture improves leptin resistance, lowers ghrelin levels and decreases glucose levels. (7) Acupuncture should therefore no longer be viewed as some mystic practice, but considered as an effective treatment for obesity both alone and together with lifestyle modification and diet. (1,3,8)
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