Weight gain has been associated with aches and pains, especially in the joints as a result of the extra strain on those areas of the body. According to the National Institutes of Health, there have been positive studies showing that acupuncture is an effective treatment for conditions such as chronic low-back pain and osteoarthritis of the knee. Both of these conditions can result from excess weight. As an alternative to over-the-counter remedies or prescription medications, more Americans are seeking alternative modalities such as acupuncture for weight loss and pain relief. Despite promising studies, additional research is needed to explore the efficacy of acupuncture.
Obesity in the United States
Obesity is determined by calculating the height and weight of a person to a determine the body mass index. A BMI of 25 or more is considered clinically overweight and a BMI of 30 or more is considered clinically obese. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity has increased dramatically in just the last 20 years and is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, certain types of cancer, and type 2 diabetes. Other risks of excess weight include low self esteem, depression, stroke and mood swings. The CDC reports that African Americans and Hispanics are at the greatest risk for obesity and that the Southern and Midwest regions of the United States were more likely to have higher numbers of obese individuals of all ages.
How Excess Weight Affects the Body
Everyone experiences aches and pains at some point in their lifetime. Excess weight commonly causes of these discomforts. Bone strength and muscle elasticity decrease with age causing less cushion between the soft discs and our spinal bones or vertebrae. When these discs lose flexibility or move out of place due to aging or stress to the joints caused by excess weight, the spinal nerves will be irritated causing pain. Back pain is the most common complaint and cause for missed work in the the United States. In fact over $50 billion a year is spent on the treatment of lower back pain. The majority of the weight in the body is supported by the spine and supported by the legs and their joints. It's not surprising then that most overweight patients complain of lower back and knee pain.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture, one aspect of Traditional Chinese Medicine, is the practice of inserting needles into the body for a variety of health conditions. Acupuncture has existed for more than 2,000 years, and though it has been widely used in in Asia and Europe, it has only recently gained popularity in the United States. As a result of the increased public interest and claims of clinical success, additional studies have been conducted to examine this ancient modality. According to a 2007 National Health Interview Survey, 3.1 million Americans had used acupuncture in the past year and 70 percent of those individuals sought treatment for pain relief. Recently acupuncture has been gaining popularity as a weight loss method but very little research exists to support the claims of efficacy in this area. However, one 2006 study reported in the journal "Medical Acupuncture," found that individuals who received acupuncture and followed a calorie-restricted diet lost twice as much weight as the individuals who only followed the calorie-restricted diet.
Treatment
For the combined treatment of weight loss and aches, an acupuncturist may take a two-tiered approach by selecting a primary focus and a secondary focus in his needle selection. For example, if the patient had a severe weight issue with minor aches, the acupuncturist may select specific points to combat the weight issue first and only select to treat a few local points near the areas where the patient has discomfort. If the opposite is true, points will focus on relieving the pain and then a few points will be used for the weight issue.
Safety
When administered by a licensed practitioner, acupuncture is considered safe with minimal risks. Acupuncture needles and their proper use is monitored closely by the government. Acupuncturists are only to use sterile, single-use only needles. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration classifies acupuncture needles as a class II medical device. For safety purposes, acupuncture should never be self-administered. Improper handling or insertion of acupuncture needles can result in injury and infection.
Considerations
Experts agree that rapid weight loss plans are unsafe and almost always unsuccessful in the long term. Talk to your doctor before beginning a weight loss plan or pain management plan that may include acupuncture. Ask your doctor to refer you to a licensed acupuncturist if you don't know of one. Remember that a good balance of diet, exercise and the proper medical supervision is the safest way to achieve and maintain your weight loss and pain management goals.
References
- National Institutes of Health : Acupuncture for Pain
- CDC : U.S. Obesity Trends
- National Institutes of Health: Relationship between body weight gain and significant knee, hip, and back pain in older Americans
- FDA : Code of Federal Regulations Title 21
- National Institutes of Health : Low Back Pain Fact Sheet
- "Medical Acupuncture," Vol. 17, #2; Acupuncture Treatment For Obesity: A Randomized Controlled Trial
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