Efficacy difference between warming acupuncture and other acupuncture methods for primary obesity: a Meta-analysis

Abstract

To systematically evaluate the efficacy difference between warming acupuncture and other acupuncture methods in the treatment of primary obesity. A computer-based retrieval was conducted at PubMed, EMBASE, CENTRAL, CINAHL, Alt HealthWatch, CNKI, CBM, WANFANG database and VIP database. Retrieval time was from the establishment date of database to October 4, 2017. Randomized controlled trial (RCT) of warming acupuncture comparing with other acupuncture methods for the treatment of primary obesity were included. The relative risk (RR) and weighted mean difference (WMD ) were used as combined effects for categorical variables and continuous variables, respectively. Totally 13 RCTs were included involving 878 patients. The Meta-analysis indicated compared with other acupuncture methods, warming acupuncture could more reduce weight (WMD: -1.49 kg, 95% CI: -2.53 to -0.45, P=0.005), improve the total effective rate (RR=1.16, 95% CI: 1.09 to 1.24, P<0.000 01), reduce BMI (WMD: -1.24 kg/m, 95% CI: -2.34 to -0.14, P=0.03), reduce waist circumference (WMD: -1.65 cm, 95% CI: -2.53 to -0.76, P=0.02) and reduce hip circumference (WMD: -2.86 cm, 95% CI: -4.37 to -1.35, P=0.000 2), but had no significant influence on total cholesterol (WMD: -0.05 mmol/L, 95% CI:-0.98 to 0.88, P=0.91). The warming acupuncture has better efficacy on primary obesity than other acupuncture methods, but less effects on lipid indicators.