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Complementary therapies for reducing body weight: a systematic review.

M H Pittler1, E Ernst

  • 1Complementary Medicine, Peninsula Medical School, Universities of Exeter and Plymouth, UK. M.H.Pittler@exeter.ac.uk

International Journal of Obesity (2005)
|June 1, 2005
PubMed
Summary

Most complementary therapies lack convincing evidence for weight loss. Hypnotherapy and ephedrine supplements show small effects but carry risks, necessitating further research for these obesity treatments.

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Area of Science:

  • Integrative Medicine
  • Obesity Research
  • Evidence-Based Practice

Background:

  • Rising global obesity rates necessitate effective weight management strategies.
  • Numerous complementary therapies claim efficacy for weight reduction.
  • Systematic evaluation of evidence for these therapies is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To critically appraise the scientific evidence for complementary therapies in weight reduction.
  • To assess data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews.
  • To identify therapies with robust evidence for efficacy and safety.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive literature search of major databases (Medline, Embase, Amed, Cochrane Library) up to January 2004.
  • Inclusion of six systematic reviews and 25 RCTs evaluating acupuncture, acupressure, dietary supplements, homeopathy, and hypnotherapy.

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  • Systematic and independent data extraction and quality assessment by two reviewers.

    • Main Results:

    • Evidence for acupuncture, acupressure, homeopathy, and most dietary supplements is not convincing for weight reduction.
    • Hypnotherapy and ephedra sinica (and other ephedrine-containing supplements) demonstrated small weight reduction effects compared to placebo.
    • Ephedrine intake is linked to an increased risk of adverse events.

    Conclusions:

    • The majority of complementary therapies lack sufficient evidence to support their use for weight management.
    • Hypnotherapy and ephedrine-based supplements may offer modest weight loss but require cautious use due to safety concerns.
    • Positive findings from single RCTs necessitate independent replication before widespread adoption.