Thread Embedding Acupuncture Therapy for Weight Loss

NCT06653530 | Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: 2024BL02-055-02
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 400
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Obesity is the most prevalent chronic disease worldwide, affecting approximately 800 million adults. Excess adiposity and its numerous complications, including cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, impose a considerable economic burden and constitute major contributors to global morbidity and mortality. Treatments that result in substantial weight reductions may improve outcomes for people living with obesity. Thread embedding acupuncture which provides long-term acupoints stimulation may be an effective treatment option for obesity. However, effects of thread embedding on obesity remain uncertain because of the small sample sizes or other methodological limitations. The objective of this multi-center, randomized, sham-controlled trial is to assess the effect of thread embedding acupuncture for alleviating weight.

Conditions

Obesity and Overweight

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Relative change in body weight

  Measured in percentage (%)

  From baseline (week 0) to end of treatment (week 24)

Secondary Outcomes (19)

• Body weight reduction greater than or equal to 5%

  From baseline (week 0) to end of treatment (week 24)

• Body weight reduction greater than or equal to 10%

  From baseline (week 0) to end of treatment (week 24)

• Change in body weight

  From baseline (week 0) to end of treatment (week 24)

• Change in Body Mass Index (BMI)

  From baseline (week 0) to end of treatment (week 24)

• Change in body fat rate

  From baseline (week 0) to end of treatment (week 24)

Study Arms (2)

Thread embedding acupuncture

EXPERIMENTAL

The participants in the thread embedding acupuncture therapy group will receive treatment that consists of 18 thread embedding acupuncture sessions over a 24-week period after baseline (once a week for the first 12 weeks and every two weeks for the next 12 weeks).

Other: Thread embedding acupuncture

Sham thread embedding acupuncture

SHAM COMPARATOR

The participants in the sham thread embedding acupuncture therapy group will receive treatment that consists of 18 sham thread embedding acupuncture sessions over a 24-week period after baseline (once a week for the first 12 weeks and every two weeks for the next 12 weeks).

Other: Sham thread embedding acupuncture

Interventions

Thread embedding acupuncture OTHER

Thread embedding acupuncture is performed using polyglycolic acido thread. Needles have a gauge size of 23G, a shaft length of 60mm, and a thread length of 50mm, folded in half, and are applied to fourteen acupoints, including Zhongwan (CV12), Qihai (CV6), bilateral Tianshu (ST 25), bilateral Wailing (ST 26), bilateral Daheng (SP 15), bilateral Zusanli (ST 36), bilateral Pishu (BL 20), and bilateral Weishu (BL 21). After the thread is inserted into the body, the needle will be withdrawn immediately. During the treatment period, health counseling will be provided by qualified staff at every visit, including diet and physical activity, but there will be no strict restrictions.

Thread embedding acupuncture

Sham thread embedding acupuncture OTHER

The protocol includes the same duration and frequency of sessions as for thread embedding acupuncture, but the treatment will be delivered superficially at non-acupuncture points 10mm from the lateral of the corresponding acupuncture and not above a meridian line. Needles without threads have a gauge size of 23G, and a shaft length of 60mm will be used. After the needle is inserted into the body, it will be withdrawn immediately. During the treatment period, health counseling will be provided by qualified staff at every visit, including diet and physical activity, but there will be no strict restrictions.

Sham thread embedding acupuncture

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 75 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Body-mass index: a. BMI ≥ 28 kg/m2 or b. BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2 with the presence of at least one of the following weight-related complications (treated or untreated): diabetes, hypertension, lipid metabolism disorders, obstructive sleep apnea, cardiovascular disease, knee osteoarthritis, hyperuricemia, fatty liver;
• Male or female, age between 18 and 75 years at the time of signing informed consent;
• No history of receiving thread embedding treatment;
• History of at least one self-reported unsuccessful dietary effort and exercise program to lose body weight;
• Informed consent obtained.

You may not qualify if:

• A self-reported change in body weight ≥ 5 kg within 90 days before screening;
• Treatment with any medication for the indication of obesity within the past 90 days before Screening;
• Previous or planned (during the trial period) obesity treatment with surgery or a bodyweight loss device. However, the following were allowed: (1) liposuction and/or abdominoplasty, if performed more than 1 year before screening; (2) lap banding, if the band had been removed more than 1 year before screening; (3) intragastric balloon, if the balloon had been removed more than 1 year before screening; or (4) duodenal-jejunal bypass sleeve, if the sleeve had been removed more than 1 year before screening;
• Have obesity induced by other endocrinologic disorders (for example, Cushing Syndrome) or diagnosed monogenetic or syndromic forms of obesity (for example, Melanocortin 4 Receptor deficiency or Prader Willi Syndrome);
• Uncontrolled thyroid disease, defined as thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)\>6.0 mIU/L or \<0.35 mIU/L as measured by the central laboratory at screening;
• Diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus ≤180 days prior to the day of screening or those who have taken treatment with oral agents that were unstable (different drug(s), dose, or dosing frequency) within the 90 days prior to screening;
• Receipt of any acupuncture treatment for obesity within 90 days before screening;
• Participation in any structured, monitored weight-loss program within 90 days before screening;
• Active inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, chronic pancreatitis, or other disorder potentially causing malabsorption;
• Any of the following severe cardiovascular diseases: myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, symptomatic peripheral vascular diseases, or hospitalization for unstable angina or transient ischemic attack within the last 6 months prior to screening;
• History of malignant neoplasms within the past 5 years prior to screening. Basal and squamous cell skin cancer and any carcinoma in-situ are allowed;
• Chronic respiratory, neurological, musculoskeletal or other disorders where, in the judgement of the investigator, participants would have unacceptable risk or difficulty in complying with the protocol;
• Surgery scheduled for the duration of the trial, except for minor surgical procedures, in the opinion of the investigator;
• Known or suspected abuse of alcohol or recreational drugs;
• Female who was pregnant, breast-feeding, or intended to become pregnant, or was of child-bearing potential and not using a highly effective contraceptive method;

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine: lead

Study Sites (1)

Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Beijing, Beijing Municipality, 100010, China

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Obesity; Overweight

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Overnutrition; Nutrition Disorders; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Body Weight; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Central Study Contacts

Bin Li, Dr

CONTACT

0086-18910781852; libin@bjzhongyi.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 21, 2024
• First Posted: October 22, 2024
• Study Start: November 1, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): October 31, 2026
• Last Updated: January 16, 2025

Record last verified: 2024-10

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CN (1)