Reduction in postpartum weight with laser acupuncture: A randomized control trial

BACKGROUND: Gestational weight gain and weight retention at 1 year after delivery are associated with long-term obesity. We aimed to investigate the effect of laser acupuncture therapy on postpartum weight control. METHODS: We randomly assigned 66 subjects with postpartum weight retention to a laser acupuncture group and control group. The subjects were treated at acupoints including the stomach and hunger points of the ear, ST25, ST28, ST40, SP15, CV9, and SP6 by using verum or sham laser acupuncture over 5 sessions per week. After 12 treatment sessions, the differences in the body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (BFP), and waist-to-buttocks ratio (WBR) of the patients were analyzed and compared between the laser acupuncture and control groups via analysis of variance, chi-square tests, and stepwise regression tests. RESULTS: The characteristics of the patients did not significantly differ between the laser acupuncture and control groups. Analysis of repeated measures data between the laser acupuncture and control groups indicated the presence of significant differences in postpartum BMI (P < 0.001) and BFP (P < 0.001); however, no significant difference was observed for WBR (P = 0.09). CONCLUSION: Laser acupuncture reduces postpartum weight retention by improving BMI and BFP, but does not impact the WBR following short-term treatment.