The Facts on Obesity:
The World Health Organization (WHO) updated the facts about being overweight on their website, stating the following:
– Worldwide obesity has nearly doubled since 1980
– In 2008, more than 1.4 billion adults, 20 and older, were overweight. Of these over 200 million men and nearly 300 million women were obese
– 35% of adults aged 20 and over were overweight in 2008, and 11% were obese
– 65% of the world’s population live in countries where overweight and obesity kills more people than underweight
– More than 40 million children under the age of 5 were overweight or obese in 2012
– Obesity is preventable
Overweight and obesity are major risk factors for chronic diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. The WHO reports that being overweight was once considered a problem only in high income countries, but today overweight and obesity are now dramatically on the rise in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in urban settings.
As more people struggle with weight loss, many are considering alternative methods, like gastro-intestinal surgeries, extreme cleansing diets, that are really only for the short term, also diets that are termed yo-yo or fad diets.
But still others have considered acupuncture for weight loss. There are those who would immediately discard something like acupuncture, but there are others who insist that the benefits are real and that acupuncture dose help.
What Is Acupuncture?
What is acupuncture, and can it be used for weight loss? Acupuncture originated in ancient China, and it is a process through the use of needles (as thin as hair strains) that are placed at certain points on a person’s skin.
Acupuncture originates in the belief that the yin-yang forces flow along invisible pathways in the body called meridians, and that illness results from an imbalance in these forces, or the blockage of these forces. Acupuncture can relieve limited amounts of pain temporarily, though no physical or medical model exists yet to explain acupuncture.
Can Acupuncture really work for weight loss?
Putting the argument aside, that is if acupuncture really works for weight loss, consider the many things that acupuncture can do that at the very least, can assist in weight loss.
Relieves Stress
According to Jane Jakubczak, a registered dietitian at the University of Maryland, she states, “Emotional eating is eating for reasons other than hunger. Instead of the physical symptom of hunger initiating the eating, an emotion triggers the eating.”
When your stress and sad it could be ice cream, cookies, potato chips, or any other type of junk food you reach for. This is where acupuncture comes into play. The process of acupuncture is relaxing, and when you are relaxed, you are far less stressed. When you are less stressed, there is no emotional eating. When stress is under control, so is the urge of emotional eating.
Boost Metabolism and Suppress Appetite
The practice of acupuncture also attests that it can boost metabolism and suppress appetite. It can improve typical body functions to assist you in purging your body of toxins and promotes an internal balancing that leads to a general improvement in mental and physical health.
All of these benefits are key parts in maintaining a healthy weight. Unhappy people eat more, and an improvement of body function as well as mental health can help with weight loss, and maintaining a healthy weight.
Acupuncture and Weight Loss Does It Work?
The questions is, will acupuncture work for you? With the different diets and weight loss programs, all having different approaches, each individual has very different results when it comes to weight loss. Each person loses weight at their own speed, and what works for your friend or family member, might not work for you.
At best, most diets are just short term, and have no real focus on your nutritional needs for good health. Everyone who has had success using acupuncture to lose weight admits that it is not a magical cure. It still takes focus on eating healthy and incorporating regular exercise into the weight loss plan. Ideal weight loss typically happens at one or two pounds per week, which any medical professional will report is a healthy way to shed those pounds.
Some diet plans say “Loss 100 pounds in 1, 2, or 3 months.” Maybe some have done it, but it is taxing on the heart, and not good for your health in the long run. Slow and steady over time works far better than quick and immediate. You will have a better chance at keeping that weight off.
Guidelines for Acupuncture to succeed :
If you have decided to use acupuncture as an aid to losing weight, follow these guidelines to have the best opportunity to succeed with acupuncture:
– Find an accredited acupuncturist. Most reputable locations require acupuncturists to be accredited and licensed. Be certain yours is.
– Follow through with the full session plan (typically can be 4 to 8 sessions). Just as you cannot lose weight overnight by cutting calories or going to the gym for only a few hours, neither can you attend just one or two sessions.
– Healthy diet – Acupuncture and Weight Loss Does It Work?Remember that the key is a healthy diet, and exercise to losing weight. You could visit an acupuncturist five days a week, but if you don’t follow a healthy diet or have an exercise plan in place you won’t see the results you want, expect, and can have.
Remember, losing weight in a healthy way, isn’t over night or even in two weeks to a month. As it took time to gain the weight, so it will take time to lose it. Acupuncture can be an aid, and should only be considered an aid to losing weight along with a healthy diet and exercise.
Lastly, you don’t have to eat less to lose weight, just eat right.
ScienceQ publishing Group 