Can Acupuncture Help With Weight Loss?
A Long-Standing Traditional Technique May Help You Lose Weight
Let’s be honest—pills and medical procedures aren’t for everyone. That’s why many people turn to traditional treatments like acupuncture. This ancient practice has been used for centuries to help with everything from pain and stress to sleep and digestion. It has earned its place in the spotlight for handling all sorts of health concerns.
But can it actually help you lose weight, too?
What Is Acupuncture?
Qi, pronounced “chee,” is the vital energy believed to flow through the body’s meridians or pathways. According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), disruptions in the flow of Qi can lead to various health issues.
Acupuncture is a practice where thin needles are inserted into specific points on the body, to stimulate Qi. By stimulating certain points, acupuncture aims to restore the smooth flow of Qi and support healing.
In TCM, weight gain is often seen as a symptom of deeper imbalances in the body—like dampness or phlegm accumulation, Qi deficiency, or issues with organs like the spleen and liver.
These imbalances can affect digestion, metabolism, and energy levels—all of which are crucial for maintaining a healthy weight. For instance, TCM believes that a weak spleen fails to properly transform food into energy. This then leads to excess dampness that eventually turns into fat.
Can Acupuncture Help With Weight Loss?
One big myth is that acupuncture simply “pokes” the fat away. That’s not how it works.
Acupuncture doesn’t target fat directly but aims to treat the root causes contributing to weight gain. This can include supporting better digestion, regulating thyroid function, improving sleep, and easing chronic pain or breathing issues that may prevent exercise.
It may also help regulate appetite and reduce cravings by influencing hunger hormones like ghrelin. In fact, anecdotes from people receiving acupuncture share that acupuncture can help with other things that may interfere with weight loss, like curbing appetite, boost your metabolism, improving digestion, aiding sleep after consistent acupuncture sessions.
Acupuncture may also be beneficial for individuals with thyroid issues or insulin resistance, both of which can contribute to weight gain.
Acupuncture can also help manage conditions that make weight gain easier, like thyroid problems and insulin resistance.
Research on Acupuncture for Weight Loss
While more studies are needed, there’s promising evidence to suggest that acupuncture may help with weight loss:
An analysis found that adding acupuncture to lifestyle changes was more effective than lifestyle changes alone. However, it was only effective for people who were overweight, not those with obesity. According to the review, acupuncture improves insulin resistance, glucose metabolism, lipid levels, and appetite regulation.
A 2019 review looked at both human and animal studies and found several ways acupuncture may support weight loss. These include helping regulate appetite, speeding up metabolism, improving how the body handles insulin, reducing fat buildup, and lowering inflammation. The review also noted that acupuncture might influence the brain-gut connection and the body’s hormone system, which could affect hunger and how fat is stored.
In an Egyptian study, people with obesity who combined acupuncture with a low-calorie diet lost inches and had lower levels of inflammation.
A Swiss study of over 11,000 people found that pairing acupuncture with a low-carb diet helped many obese patients lose weight.
Another study showed that both body and ear acupuncture helped reduce weight, BMI, body fat, waist size, and hip size. But ear acupuncture showed superior results.
A small Japanese study found that auricular acupuncture may reduce appetite by suppressing ghrelin production.
Risks of Acupuncture
Like any procedure that breaks the skin, there are some risks to keep in mind:
Minor bleeding or bruising
Pain or tenderness at needle sites
Dizziness or drowsiness
Infection from unsterilized needles
Rare but serious risks like nerve injury or collapsed lung
Minimize risks by always working with certified acupuncturists. Check organizations like the Acupuncture Now Foundation or the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) to find licensed practitioners near you.
People with pacemakers, infections, severe neutropenia, seizures, or certain mental health conditions (like psychosis) should avoid acupuncture.
What to Expect During an Acupuncture Session
Your first acupuncture session usually starts with a chat about your health history and weight loss goals. From there, the acupuncturist will figure out what’s behind your weight struggles—like digestion or hormone issues—and come up with a plan just for you.
During the session, they’ll gently insert thin needles into specific spots on your body and may move them slightly to help energy flow better. Sessions typically last 30 to 90 minutes, depending on your needs.
You Still Need to Put in the Work
Acupuncture isn’t a miracle cure. Like any treatment, it works best when paired with healthy habits. Think of it as a support system: it can help regulate your metabolism, curb cravings, and reduce stress—but you still need to eat well and stay active.
Many acupuncturists offer holistic strategies that include guidance on diet and lifestyle alongside treatments. In short, acupuncture can be a helpful ally in your weight loss journey, especially when coupled with a balanced, healthy lifestyle.
More Health News
7 Ways a Healthier Gut Microbiome Can Promote Weight Loss. Learn More
Why Your Plate Needs More Color: A Delicious Guide to Healthy Eating. Learn More
Counting Macros vs Counting Calories. Learn More
 | A guest post by
|