Meta-analysis of Tuina combined with other treatments for obesity

To evaluate the efficacy of Tuina (a form of Chinese therapeutic massage) combined with complementary therapies (such as auricular plaster therapy, acupuncture, or herbal medicine) on improving weight, body mass index (BMI), and body composition in obese patients.

A comprehensive search of CNKI, Wanfang, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science (from January 2004 to March 2024) was conducted for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Heterogeneity among studies was quantified using the I² statistic, and fixed-effects or random-effects models were applied as appropriate. Publication bias was assessed using funnel plots.

Eleven RCTs involving 695 patients were included. Tuina combined with complementary therapies significantly improved clinical efficacy (OR = 1.92, 95% CI [1.21, 3.03], P < .01; I² = 0%, fixed-effects model) and led to a substantial reduction in body weight (weighted mean difference [WMD] = -5.32 kg, 95% CI [-7.55, -3.10], P < .0001) as well as a significant decrease in BMI (WMD = -1.17, 95% CI [-1.72, -0.62], P < .0001; I² = 32%, fixed-effects model). Compared to auricular therapy alone, improvements in waist circumference (WMD = -1.79 cm, P = .28) and hip circumference (WMD = -0.68 cm, P = .29) did not reach statistical significance.

Tuina combined with auricular plaster therapy or acupuncture has been shown to effectively reduce weight and BMI in individuals with obesity. Nevertheless, further validation through standardized RCTs with long-term follow-up is necessary to confirm these findings.