Acupuncture and moxibustion as effective treatments for simple obesity in children: a meta-analysis.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to systematically evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture and moxibustion in treating simple obesity in children, focusing on metabolic and weight-related outcomes.
Results Summary
The study found that acupuncture and moxibustion significantly improved blood lipids, fasting blood glucose, BMI, and TCM syndrome scores in children with simple obesity. However, high heterogeneity (I² > 80%) in some outcomes suggests variability in study designs or populations.
Population
Children with simple obesity (studies published between 2003 and 2024).
Effective Dosage
Not specified in the abstract.
Duration
Not specified in the abstract.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
acupuncture and moxibustion | decrease | total cholesterol (TC) | children with simple obesity | SMD = -0.53; 95% CI: -0.95 to -0.12, P<0.0001, I2 = 87.3% | significantly reduced | #1 |
acupuncture and moxibustion | decrease | triglyceride (TG) | children with simple obesity | SMD = -0.27; 95% CI: -0.54 to -0.01, P = 0.002, I2 = 66.7% | significantly reduced | #2 |
acupuncture and moxibustion | decrease | fasting blood glucose levels | children with simple obesity | SMD = -0.61; 95% CI: -1.08 to -0.13, I2 = 82.2%, P = 0.001 | significantly reduced | #3 |
semaglutide combined with metformin | decrease | body mass indexes (BMI) | children with simple obesity | SMD = -0.49, 95% CI: -0.80 to -0.18, I2 = 81% | led to significant reductions | #4 |
acupuncture treatment | decrease | TCM syndrome scores | children with simple obesity | SMD = -1.49; 95% CI = -2.73 to 0.25; I2 = 96.4%, P<0.0001 | resulted in a decrease | #5 |
acupuncture and moxibustion treatment | decrease | fasting blood glucose | children with simple obesity | - | significantly reduced | #6 |
acupuncture and moxibustion treatment | decrease | waist circumference | children with simple obesity | - | significantly reduced | #7 |
acupuncture and moxibustion treatment | decrease | TCM syndromes score | children with simple obesity | - | significantly reduced | #8 |
acupuncture and moxibustion treatment | decrease | BMI | children with simple obesity | - | significantly reduced | #9 |
acupuncture and moxibustion treatment | decrease | lipid levels | children with simple obesity | - | significantly reduced | #10 |
OBJECTIVE: To systematically review published studies on the application of acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of simple obesity in children and evaluate its effectiveness. METHODS: A comprehensive search was conducted in the Wanfang, CNKI, Chinese Biomedical Literature, VIP, Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science for studies on the effects of acupuncture and moxibustion in treating simple obesity in children, published between December 2003 and October 2024. Primary clinical outcomes included blood lipids, fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, weight-related indicators, clinical effects, leptin, body fat-related indicators, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes. Data were extracted and summarized, and a meta-analysis was performed using Revman 5.3 software and Stata 13.1. RESULTS: A total of 20 studies met the inclusion criteria, all involving acupuncture and moxibustion therapy. Compared with the control group, acupuncture and moxibustion significantly reduced total cholesterol (TC) (SMD = -0.53; 95% CI: -0.95 to -0.12, P<0.0001, I2 = 87.3%), triglyceride (TG) (SMD = -0.27; 95% CI: -0.54 to -0.01, P = 0.002, I2 = 66.7%), and fasting blood glucose levels (SMD = -0.61; 95% CI: -1.08 to -0.13, I2 = 82.2%, P = 0.001). Compared to metformin group, semaglutide combined with metformin led to significant reductions in body mass indexes (BMI) (SMD = -0.49, 95% CI: -0.80 to -0.18, I2 = 81%). Additionally, acupuncture treatment resulted in a decrease in TCM syndrome scores compared to control therapy (SMD = -1.49; 95% CI = -2.73 to 0.25; I2 = 96.4%, P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture and moxibustion treatment for simple obesity in children significantly reduced fasting blood glucose, waist circumference, TCM syndromes score, BMI and lipid levels.