Comparative study between systemic acupuncture isolated and associated with the silicon oxide tablet in the weight loss of sedentary individuals: a randomized clinical study

Abstract

Introduction: obesity is a chronic disease that is attracting the interest for alternative treatments, such as acupuncture, auriculotherapy and stiper therapy. The stiper therapy is a relatively new technique, therefore there are few scientific studies about its effects. Aim: to evaluate the effects of systemic isolated acupuncture and associated with stiper therapy in loss of body weight from sedentary healthy subjects with overweight or obesity. Method: participants were randomized into two groups: control group (CG) and Experimental Group (GE). Both groups received the application of acupuncture for five weeks (one application per week) and EG additionally received the application stiper therapy on the same proportion. The total body weight (TBW) and the abdominal circumference (AC) were evaluated weekly. Results: TBW decreased -0.36 kg in the CG and -0.81 kg in EG, and CA decreased -2.46 cm in the CG and -3.38 cm in EC, both without statistically significant in the comparison between groups. In the comparison within groups separately, EG showed higher regressions, with statistical significance in both variables. Discussion: the comparative studies that associated systemic acupuncture with another technique also found no differences statistically significant between the modalities. Conclusion: both groups presented a reduction in the TBW and AC, however, no intervention showed superiority over the other.