October 12, 2025

Acupuncture for Treatment of Obesity: An Umbrella Review

MCMin ChenGuangxi University RWRong WuState Ethnic Affairs Commission RCRui ChenGuangzhou University of Chinese Medicine

Key Points

Acupuncture consistently demonstrates positive effects on body weight and body mass index, especially when combined with lifestyle interventions.
Among 22 systematic reviews analyzed, 77.3% achieved high methodological quality ratings according to AMSTAR standards.
Five meta-analyses provided high-quality evidence showing significant benefits of acupuncture compared to lifestyle interventions alone.
Moderate-quality evidence suggests acupuncture is effective, with no significant differences when compared to pharmaceutical treatments.

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background Systematic reviews on acupuncture for obesity report conflicting findings, and the certainty of this evidence remains unclear. This umbrella review appraises the evidence to identify which effects on body mass index (BMI) and body weight (BW) are supported by high‐quality findings. Methods We conducted an umbrella review by systematically searching PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library through April 28, 2025 to obtain systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials evaluating acupuncture interventions for obesity. Two reviewers independently assessed methodological quality using a measurement tool to assess systematic reviews (AMSTAR) and evidence quality using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE). We identified best evidence from high‐quality systematic reviews with high or moderate GRADE ratings. Results Our analysis included 22 systematic reviews encompassing 60 meta‐analyses. Seventeen reviews (77.3%) achieved high methodological quality ratings according to AMSTAR criteria. Five meta‐analyses provided high‐quality evidence consistently demonstrating significant benefits of acupuncture interventions. The strongest evidence supported acupuncture combined with lifestyle interventions compared to lifestyle interventions alone for both BMI and BW outcomes. Additional high‐quality evidence demonstrated significant benefits for acupuncture versus no treatment and versus sham acupuncture. Fourteen meta‐analyses provided moderate‐quality evidence confirming acupuncture effectiveness, with no significant differences between acupuncture and pharmaceutical treatments. Conclusions Based on high‐quality evidence, clinicians can recommend acupuncture to patients with obesity, particularly as adjunctive therapy to lifestyle interventions. For patients unable to tolerate pharmacological treatments, acupuncture represents a reasonable alternative. However, optimal benefits require integration with comprehensive lifestyle modifications rather than standalone use.

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