Acupuncture for weight loss
October 15, 2015 by Kristen Horner Warren
Filed under Blog
One of the most common questions that I hear is “does acupuncture help with weight loss?” The answer is yes, but in most cases not nearly as fast and not to the extent that most people are hoping. (I do not offer ear stapling or stimulant herbal formulas. While these methods may offer quick weight loss, they do so at the risk of serious side effects.)
It is very common for people to come to me for other concerns (such as back pain, allergies, or insomnia) and, after several months of treatment, report that they have lost 20 pounds without really trying. The reason that this happens is that acupuncture reinforces physiological balance and, as a result, strengthens your body’s ability to provide you clear feedback regarding its dietary needs.
When they are getting acupuncture, people notice that:
- They feel satisfied with less food.
- Their junk food cravings go away.
- They start developing a preference for healthy food.
- They start feeling very unpleasant when they overeat or eat unhealthy food.
- They stop engaging in emotional eating.
- If pain was previously impairing their ability to exercise, pain relief as a result of acupuncture enables them to be more active.
Gradually, over the course of weeks and months, these changes add up to a real difference on the scale.
The problem is that these changes are subtle, especially initially, and it takes time for a deficit of a few hundred calories a day to add up to a change in the way your clothes fit or the number on the scale. Ultimately, when people lose weight using acupuncture, the weight loss is very healthy because it takes place gradually and is the result of a real lifestyle change (as opposed to a short-term gimmick).
The downside is that, if you are looking to lose 30 pounds in 30 days, acupuncture is not the right treatment for you and you will almost certainly be disappointed.
If you are interested in losing weight, my recommendation is that you view acupuncture as one piece of the puzzle, not a magic bullet. Commit to a course of acupuncture therapy with the knowledge that it is a whole body treatment is similar to eating healthy and exercising in the sense that it needs to be carried out over time in order to see change.
