Laser Acupuncture for Postpartum Weight Retention

Laser Acupuncture Therapy in Patients With Postpartum Weight Retention: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: To determine the therapeutic effect of acupuncture on postpartum weight retention.

Methods: 66 subjects after delivery with postpartum weight retention will be randomly divided into laser acupuncture and control group. A single-blind clinical trial will be conducted and the subjects will be treated with verum or sham laser acupuncture 5 sessions per week. After about 3 weeks of treatment, the differences of the subjects' body weight, body mass index, and waist circumference will be analyzed with ANOVA between laser acupuncture and control group.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Postpartum Weight Retention
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: laser acupuncture; Procedure: sham laser acupuncture

Detailed Description

Objective: Gestational weight gain and weight retention at 1 year after delivery are associated with long-term obesity. The investigators aimed to investigate the effect of laser acupuncture therapy (LAT) on postpartum weight control.

Methods: The investigators randomly assigned 66 subjects with postpartum weight retention to a laser acupuncture group and control group. The subjects were treated at acupoints including the Stomach and Hunger points of the ear, ST25 (Tianshu), ST28 (Shuidao), ST40 (Fenglong), SP15 (Daheng), CV9 (Shuifen), and SP6 (Sanyinjiao) by using verum or sham laser acupuncture over 5 sessions per week. After 12 treatment sessions, the differences in the body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (BFP), and waist-to-buttocks ratio (WBR) of the patients were analyzed, and compared between the laser acupuncture and control groups via analysis of variance, chi-square tests, and stepwise regression tests.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 66
• Phase: Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Taiwan
  • Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 833
    • Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 20 years to 50 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: Female

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• postpartum duration of <1 month;
• body mass index (BMI) > 25;
• age > 20 years;
• did not use any other medications for weight loss during the study period; and
• provided informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• presence of a pacemaker;
• history of seizure or epilepsy;
• taking immunosuppressant medication;
• cancer;
• infectious disease of the skin;
• taking medications for weight loss, including Chinese herbal preparations, during the study period;
• receiving other treatment, including supplements, herbs, and medications for weight gain prior to entering the study;
• comorbidities (hypothyroidism, renal disease, etc.) that the physician believes would affect the findings;
• unable to undergo LAT due to other medical conditions; and
• lack of informed consent.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Triple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: verum laser acupuncture	Procedure: laser acupuncture; Subjects were treated at acupoints including the Stomach and Hunger points of the ear, ST25, ST28, ST40, SP15, CV9, and SP6 by using laser acupuncture (GaAlAs laser, maximal power, 150 milliwatt; wavelength, 810 nm; area of probe, 0.03 cm2; power density, 5 W/cm2; pulsed wave; 5.625 J/ cm2) over 5 sessions per week, 12 treatment sessions in total.; Other Names: low-level laser therapy
Sham Comparator: sham laser acupuncture; sham laser acupuncture (no laser output)	Procedure: sham laser acupuncture; Subjects underwent sham laser acupuncture treatment without any laser output. The acupuncture points, application duration, and total number of treatments were similar to those in verum laser acupuncture group.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Body Mass Index (BMI)	The BMI was assessed by an evaluator who was blinded to the intervention details from the beginning through study completion, up to 3 weeks, and 3 months after study completion.	up to 3 weeks, 3 months after study completion

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Waist-to-buttock Ratio (WBR)	The WBR was assessed by an evaluator who was blinded to the intervention details from the beginning through study completion, up to 3 weeks.	up to 3 weeks
Body Fat Percentage (BFP)	The BFP was assessed by an evaluator who was blinded to the intervention details from the beginning through study completion, up to 3 weeks.	up to 3 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Chang Gung Memorial Hospital

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Hu WL, Chang CH, Hung YC. Clinical observations on laser acupuncture in simple obesity therapy. Am J Chin Med. 2010;38(5):861-7. doi: 10.1142/S0192415X10008305.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: January 1, 2014
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 1, 2015
• Study Completion (Actual): December 1, 2015

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 14, 2016
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 19, 2016
• First Posted (Estimate): July 21, 2016

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): January 16, 2017
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 20, 2016
• Last Verified: November 1, 2016

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Obesity; Laser acupuncture; Postpartum weight retention
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Body Weight Changes; Weight Gain; Body Weight; Gestational Weight Gain
• Other Study ID Numbers: CMRPG8C0691

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED