Effects of Auricular Acupressure on Weight Reduction and Abdominal Obesity in Asian Young Adults: A Obesity in Asian Young Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

摘要

The current study was designed to test the efficacy of auricular acupressure onnweight reduction and changes of waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio. This study usedna randomized design with one control group and one experimental group consisting of Asiannyoung adults with a waist circumference u000180 cm in the females and u000190 cm in the males.nAt completion of eight weeks of auricular therapy, the total sample size was 55 young adultsnwho ranged in age from 18 to 20 years old.nEach participant was treated weekly for ear acupressure in ten-minute sessions. Sessionsncontinued for eight weeks wherein the control group received acupressure only whilenthe experimental group received acupressure with the Japanese Magnetic Pearl on the earnacupoints.nWhile both the control and treatment groups showed significant reduction (p u0002 0:05) tonbody weight and waist circumference after eight weeks of treatment, only the group treatednwith Japanese Magnetic Pearls showed decreased waist to hip ratio. Thus, auricularnacupressure may be a beneficial addition to weight loss programs for young adults.nCorrespondence to: Dr. Ching Hsiu Hsieh, Department of Nursing, Chang Gung Institute of Technology,nChiayi Campus, 2 Chia-pu Rd, West Sec. Pu-tz, Chiayi, 613, Taiwan. E-mail: chinghsiuh@yahoo.com ornchinghsiuh@hotmail.comnThe American Journal of Chinese Medicine, Vol. 39, No. 3, 433–440n© 2011 World Scientific Publishing CompanynInstitute for Advanced Research in Asian Science and MedicinenDOI: 10.1142/S0192415X11008932n433nAuricular acupressure is thus a reasonable option in the treatment of overweight andnobesity in young adults