Failure of losing weight by acupuncture:Acupuncture failure or patient incompliance?

Losing weight by acupuncture is an old Chinese method. Nevertheless, many physician and even people don’t believe to it. The main goal of this study is effectiveness of acupuncture on obesity. This study includes some 40 patients aged 16-48 years, with male to female ratio 1 to 2, who fulfilled with obesity criteria of this study. On the base of Obesity syndrome of diagnosis the mains body points were Ren12, St25, St28, St34, St44, Sp6, Li11. Also the stomach and sometimes shenmen point in ear were also selected. Each course includes 30 sessions. There was 5 Kg losing weight in 100% during 10 first sessions. After that the patients who continued regular sport and diets were able to progress continuing losing weight. None of them complete their 30 session. The maximum losing weight was 18 kg during 23 sessions. Some of patients mentioned eating is a fun for them and they would like to eat despite control of appetite by acupuncture which this prevented to losing weight. The effectiveness of acupuncture in control of appetite was 100%. Also in 100% of them there was about 5 kg losing weight during 10 first sessions. But after 10th session that it needs to more cooperation (like sport and avoidance of eating) of patients to continue losing weight, if there is no any compliance the process will stop. Many patients and also physicians believes no effect of acupuncture on obesity but in real there is the un compliance of patients which results to acupuncture failure.