Acut effects of acupuncture application and diet restriction for vveight loss in obese people on levels of serum lipids.

Aim: To investigate the effect of acupuncture therapy in obeses on body weight, levels of serum cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. Methods: Electroacupuncture applied to 22 women with mean body mass index (BMI) of 34.8+3.3 and mean age of 39.8+5.3 and diet restriction to 21 women with BMI of 34.9±3.3 and mean age of 42.7+3.9. Control group also consisted of 12 vvomen with BMI of 32.2+3.4 and mean age of43.3±4.3. Electroacupuncture (EA) applied to earpoints of Hunger and Shen Men, and to body points of Ll 4, Ll 11, St 25, St 36, St 44 and Liv 3 as önce daily for 30 minutes. Diet restriction was applied for 20 days as 1425 kcalorie diet program. Results: VVeight loss of 4.8% follovving electroacupuncture application and 2.5% follovving diet restriction and also on reduction of serum levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol follovving EA and cholesterol and triglycerides follovving diet restriction were observed. Conclusion: VVe presume that elec­ troacupuncture application in obeses rises serum beta endorphin level and therefore possible creates lipolytical effect thus reduces the levels of serum cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, then this may reduces the risk factors at obesity and mobilizes the energy Stores and causes a vveight reduction.