Is acupuncture effective for weight loss?

Acupuncture for Weight Loss

Acupuncture alone is not effective for weight loss, but when combined with lifestyle modifications, it can contribute to modest weight reduction in overweight individuals. 1, 2

Effectiveness of Acupuncture for Weight Loss

• The most recent and comprehensive meta-analysis (2025) found that acupuncture showed statistically significant effects on BMI reduction (mean difference = -2.15), body weight (mean difference = -2.67 kg), and waist circumference (mean difference = -3.61 cm) compared to control groups 1
• However, this meta-analysis noted that the quality of included trials was generally poor with uncertain risk of bias, limiting the strength of these conclusions 1
• Acupuncture alone is not more effective than sham acupuncture or no treatment, indicating that it should not be used as a standalone weight loss intervention 2

Most Effective Applications of Acupuncture

• Acupuncture is most effective for weight management when combined with lifestyle modifications rather than used alone 2
• Auricular acupuncture (ear acupuncture) shows the strongest effect size (Hedges' g = 0.522) among acupuncture techniques for weight loss 2
• Manual acupuncture (Hedges' g = 0.445) and pharmacopuncture (Hedges' g = 0.411) also demonstrated modest effectiveness 2
• Commonly used acupuncture points for weight management include auricular points and body points such as SP 6, LR 3, and ST 36 3

Patient Selection and Limitations

• Acupuncture appears to be effective only in overweight individuals (BMI 25-30), not in those with obesity (BMI ≥30) 2
• The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis regulation may be the mechanism through which acupuncture influences weight management 3
• One study suggests that acupuncture may work by stimulating the auricular branch of the vagal nerve and raising serotonin levels, which increases stomach smooth muscle tone and suppresses appetite 4

Safety and Practical Considerations

• Serious adverse events were not observed in acupuncture for weight loss studies, suggesting it is generally safe 1
• Cost may be a significant barrier to acupuncture treatment for many patients 3
• A 2009 systematic review concluded that while acupuncture showed some effectiveness for obesity treatment, the poor methodological quality of available studies limited the strength of evidence 5

Clinical Recommendations

• For patients seeking weight loss, recommend comprehensive lifestyle modifications (diet and exercise) as the primary approach 2
• Consider acupuncture as an adjunctive therapy to lifestyle modifications, particularly in overweight (not obese) individuals who are struggling with appetite control 4, 2
• Auricular acupuncture appears to be the most effective acupuncture technique for weight management 2
• Set realistic expectations with patients - weight loss with acupuncture is modest (typically 1-3 kg) even when combined with lifestyle changes 1, 2
• Emphasize that high-quality evidence supporting acupuncture for weight loss remains limited, and longer-term studies are needed 1, 5