By Tobi Thomas of The Guardian [1].
Acupuncture and slimming balloons are among the methods being discussed at the European Summit on Obesity.
At the European Congress on Obesity 2023, a wide range of experts shared research on ways to address the obesity epidemic. Three ideas were presented here as ways to contribute to a healthier lifestyle.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture, the 3,000-year-old practice in which the skin is traditionally pricked with needles, may be of use to those who want to lose a few pounds.
A Japanese study concluded that ear acupuncture can significantly contribute to weight loss, with researchers claiming that the method can stimulate nerves and organs that help control food cravings.
The study involved 81 Japanese men aged between 21 and 78 who received a form of ear acupuncture in which small metal beads are attached to six points on the outer ear.
All received nutrition counseling during hospital visits and were asked to keep a diet diary while reducing their total food intake by half during three months of treatment.
The study found that participants lost an average of 10.4 cm of their waist circumference (from an average of 98.4 cm to 88 cm) and 4% of their total body fat (from an average of 28.2% to 24.3%).
Dr. Takahiro Fujimoto, the study’s author, said the findings show that acupuncture on the ear can help with weight loss when combined with diet and exercise.
“It is likely that acupuncture has a positive effect by curbing cravings and appetite, improving digestion and boosting metabolism,” he added.
Exposure to cold
Exposing yourself to cold in the morning to the point of shivering can help with weight loss, but more so for men.
A preliminary study by Dr. Mariëtte Boon suggested that exposure to cold in the morning is more effective for boosting metabolism and burning fat than in the evening.
In the study, 24 men and women were exposed to cold water in the morning and evening. The results showed that for men, energy consumption due to cold was higher in the morning than in the evening. For women, however, it made little difference whether exposure to cold occurred early or late in the day.
Boon suggests starting with cold showers in the morning.
“When it comes to cold showers, I would usually recommend starting with just 20 seconds the first time, and not with the head,” Boon says. “The next day, 30 seconds, and then build up to 90 seconds. I think 90 seconds is pretty long, and I don’t think it’s necessary to go longer.
“When you do the ice baths, or the winter swimming, build that up as well. And if you find afterwards that you had trouble warming up, that’s a sign that it was too long or too cold for you,” she added.
Weight loss balloons
Instead of undergoing stomach surgery – an invasive weight loss treatment in which your stomach is made smaller – swallowable gastric balloons have been developed and have been proven to be an effective weight loss treatment.
The gastric balloon is swallowed like a pill, but it has a long thin tube attached to it. Ultrasound is used to determine when the balloon is in place in the stomach, and it is then fixed.
Unlike gastric surgery, the balloon is a temporary measure. After 16 weeks, it bursts in the stomach, the water is released and the balloon itself is excreted.
In a study examining 181 obese adults, participants were prescribed both the balloon and the weight-loss drug liraglutide. Results showed that, on average, the patients lost nearly three-quarters (74%) of their excess body weight.
[1] Thomas, T. (2023, May 19). Balloon pills and cold showers: experts’ ideas for losing weight. The Guardian.
