Does Acupuncture Work for Weight Loss?

Weight loss is a challenge for most people. And there are lots of different options for treatment. Some people prefer to stay away from medication or surgery to reach their weight-loss goals. But changes in diet or exercise aren’t always enough. If you want to explore more natural or alternative treatments, acupuncture may be an option. 

What exactly is acupuncture for weight loss?

Acupuncture is a practice rooted in traditional Chinese medicine. It uses very small needles inserted into specific pressure points throughout your body. This allows energy, called “qi,” to flow more easily through channels in your body, called “meridians.” This is meant to restore balance in your body and help alleviate various symptoms and diseases.

Acupuncture is used to treat a wide variety of different conditions. When it’s used for weight loss, it targets pressure points linked to digestive organs. It’s thought that acupuncture increases insulin production, a hormone that keeps your blood sugar from rising. It may also regulate hormones like ghrelin and leptin, which affect feelings of hunger and fullness.

There are several different ways to perform acupuncture. They all stimulate pressure points in different areas:

• Traditional acupuncture uses needles placed in different areas around your body.

• Acupressure uses beads instead of needles.

• Auricular (ear) acupuncture targets pressure points specifically around your ear, using needles or beads.

• Electroacupuncture (EA) uses needles with a small amount of electrical stimulation.

• Cupping uses cups to create suction and apply pressure. Some cupping methods also use heat to stimulate an area.

• Laser acupuncture uses low-intensity lasers. However, research suggests this method may not be effective for weight loss.

Does acupuncture really work for weight loss?

Some research has shown that acupuncture can help people with weight loss. But because of the lack of large clinical trials, it’s hard to know for sure how well it works.

Several reviews have combined results from smaller studies to get a better idea of whether acupuncture can help with weight management. Here’s what three main reviews found:

• Across 64 studies done in the last 10 years, acupuncture led to improvements in body mass index (BMI), body weight, and waist circumference.

• A review of 14 studies found that electroacupuncture and laser acupuncture reduced body weight and BMI over the course of 6 to 12 weeks.

• Another review of multiple studies found that ear acupuncture was especially helpful for weight loss in people with a high BMI.

But there were limitations in all of these reviews. Many of the studies included were small. There were also big differences in the type of acupuncture used and the number of treatments from study to study. This makes it hard to draw any firm conclusions. 

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Scientists have also compared acupuncture to other weight-loss strategies, like diet and exercise: 

• One study compared electroacupuncture to sit-up exercises in women diagnosed with obesity. Researchers observed that acupuncture was better at reducing weight and waist circumference. 

• One small study showed that weekly acupuncture combined with a low-calorie diet helped with weight loss. Another larger study found similar results when acupuncture was combined with a low-carb diet. 

To better understand whether acupuncture itself was responsible for weight loss, some studies compared it to placebo. The placebo groups received “sham” acupuncture. That means the needles were placed into areas that aren’t true pressure points. The results were mixed:

• One study found that sham acupuncture was as effective as acupuncture. This may be due to the placebo effect. In other words, the treatment worked because people expected it to work. 

• Another study found that body, auricular, and electroacupuncture were more effective than sham acupuncture for weight loss.

Acupuncture for metabolism boost

Acupuncture may also boost a process called lipid metabolism. Lipid metabolism is how your body breaks down fats like cholesterol and triglycerides. People diagnosed with obesity are more likely to have issues with lipid metabolism. It’s thought that acupuncture helps the liver better break down these fats and prevent them from building up in your body.

Acupressure points to lose belly fat

Not many studies have looked directly at which acupressure points target belly fat. But one review found these key acupoints were effective for treating obesity across 11 trials:

• LI4, also known as “Hegu,” is located on the back of your hand between your thumb and index finger.

• ST36, also called “Zusanli,” is found on the outer front part of your lower leg, just below your knee.

• ST44, named “Neiting,” is found on the top of your foot between your second and third toes.

What weight-loss results can you expect from acupuncture?

Based on available research, it’s difficult to predict how much weight someone might lose with acupuncture. And certain factors may affect how likely it is that acupuncture will work to help you find a more comfortable weight:

• Sex: Females tended to lose more weight than males.

• Body size: People who weighed more at the start of treatment lost more weight than those who weighed less.

• Number of treatments: In general, acupuncture seemed more effective for people who had 10 or more treatments.

• Diet: Many studies looked at acupuncture along with a modified diet. So, other lifestyle changes likely play a role too.

According to these studies, most people saw some weight loss during the first 8 weeks of treatment. But keep in mind that several studies were short term. They didn’t look at long-term weight loss or weight maintenance.

Everyone’s weight-loss experience and results will be different. It’s important to find an approach that feels right for your body. Try not to compare your own experience and results to someone else’s — or to the results seen in research studies.

Are there any downsides to trying acupuncture for weight loss?

When it comes to health risks, acupuncture is very safe. The most common side effects include:

• Bruising

• Redness

• Swelling

• Itching

• Dizziness

• Feeling tired

Cost is another consideration. Acupuncture treatments can be expensive. But some insurance companies are now covering part or all of the cost. So, it’s worth checking with your insurance company to explore your options.

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Written by:

Cherilyn Davis, MD

Cherilyn Davis, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician in NYC. She's held local and national roles at the American Medical Women's Association, including board member of the physician division and physician chair of social media.

Edited by:

Katie E. Golden, MD

Katie E. Golden, MD, is a board-certified emergency medicine physician and a medical editor at GoodRx.

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