Ginekol Pol. 2003 Feb; 74(2): 102-7.

[The effectiveness of low-calorie diet or diet with acupuncture treatment in obese peri- and postmenopausal women]

WoÅºniak P, Oszukowski P, Stachowiak G, SzyÅÅo K.

Specjalistycznej Przychodni ICZMP w Åodzi.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to compare the efficacy of low calorie diet and low calorie diet applied together with acupuncture in treatment of obesity in peri- and postmenopausal women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty nine obese peri- and postmenopausal women qualified for hormone replacement therapy were divided into two groups. Women from the first group (n = 33) during six months used a low calorie slimming diet: 1000 kcal below daily energy requirement (1200-1500 kcal per day on the average), 5-6 meals a day, consisted of proteins in 10-15%, fat in 25% and carbohydrates in 60-65%. The second group (n = 36) during this period had the same kind of diet as well as one cycle of six-week acupuncture procedures. Each cycle consisted of 12 procedures (2 per week). Following acupuncture points were applied: -GV 20 (Baihui), CV 12 (Zhongwan), ST 36 (Zusanli), ST 21 (Liangmen), ST 25 (Tianshu), LIV3 (Taichong), LIV 13 (Zhangen), P 6 (Neiguan), H 7 (Shenmen); auriculotherapy--55 (Shenmen), 87 (Stomach). RESULTS: In the first group on the low calorie slimming diet mean body weight decreased from 85.48 +/- 8.48 kg to 77.07 +/- 7.7 kg (BMI dropped from 33.23 +/- 1.90 kg/m2 to 29.95 +/- 1.66 kg/m2) during six-week period (p < 0.001). In the second group (acupuncture together with a low calorie diet) decreased mean body weight from 85.5 +/- 5.99 kg to 72.68 +/- 6.06 kg (BMI dropped from 33.54 +/- 1.77 kg/m2 to 28.51 +/- 2.00 kg/m2) at the same time (p < 0.001). The mean drop of body weight as well as BMI was significantly higher in the group treated with acupuncture and slimming diet (12.81 +/- 2.85 kg and 5.03 +/- 1.08 kg/m2) than in the low calorie diet group (8.41 +/- 2.02 kg and 3.28 +/- 0.78 kg/m2); p < 0.01. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Our results testify to the higher efficacy of the complex low calorie diet and acupuncture treatment in comparison to the low calorie therapy in the lowering of BMI and body weight. 2. Acupuncture seems to be an additional useful healing method in treatment of menopausal obesity.