The clinical evaluation of electroacupuncture combined with mindfulness meditation for overweight and obesity: study protocol for a randomized sham-controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND: Overweight and obesity have reached an epidemic level which impacts individual health and creates a financial burden worldwide. Evidence has shown that electroacupuncture is effective for weight loss when combined with lifestyle intervention, while mindfulness meditation can enhance the outcome of weight loss programs. This study aims to evaluate the safety and the add-on effect of electroacupuncture and mindfulness meditation for weight management in overweight and obesity. METHODS/DESIGN: This is a sham-controlled, three-armed randomized clinical trial. A total of 165 participants with BMI between 25 and 39.99 and aged between 18 and 60 who meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria will be randomized into [1] electroacupuncture plus mindfulness meditation group, [2] sham electroacupuncture plus mindfulness meditation group, and [3] electroacupuncture only group. The total duration of this study will be 22 weeks, which consists of a 2-week run-in period, a 12-week intervention period, and an 8-week follow-up period. Participants will receive 12 weekly treatments during the intervention period. Primary outcomes will include body mass index, waist and hip ratio, and body composition. Secondary outcomes will be measured by the Weight-Related Symptom Measure, Obesity and Weight Loss Quality of Life, the Power of Food Scale, and the Chinese medicine differential diagnosis questionnaire. Outcomes will be assessed at the baseline, and endpoints of the 3rd, 6th, 9th, 12th, 14th, 16th, and 20th week. DISCUSSION: This clinical trial will investigate the add-on effect of two combined interventions for weight loss treatment. The findings of this study may contribute to the development of a cost-effective and multidisciplinary weight management approach. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) ACTRN12618000964213. Registered on 07 June 2018. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13063-022-06725-8.