ACUPUNCTURE FOR WEIGHT LOSS
July 16th, 2008
In developing a weight loss plan individuals should view their weight loss goals as part of an overall long-term strategy to achieve an improved state of health. Developing a weight loss plan requires a steady course of weight loss with modest goals that will maximize the probability of permanent weight loss.
Combined with a reduced calorie diet and exercise, acupuncture can provide the extra leverage that assists dieters with their weight loss plan. As an adjunct therapy for weight loss, treatment protocol consists of a combination of primarily auricular and selected additional body points that regulate the body’s metabolism and reduce hunger.
When exercise is added to dietary modification in developing a weight loss plan, even greater weight loss is possible. Those who make gradual changes in diet and exercise when developing a weight loss plan are more likely to manage their weight and prevent weight cycling. In developing a weight loss plan, smaller, more frequent meals can aid in avoiding binge eating and reducing food cravings while stabilizing blood sugar levels.
Exercise can aid in regulating appetite and increasing caloric expenditure. Aerobic exercises, in developing a weight loss plan, may include walking, running, skating, and stair-climbing exercises which burn more calories than resistance exercise activities.
Developing a weight loss plan means taking into consideration that if you include diet without exercise you will lower your basic metabolic rate, the number of calories your body uses at rest. Developing a weight loss plan without exercise also means that you lose both muscle and fat, which is counterproductive to permanent weight loss and fitness goals.
Acupuncture therapy, when included in a weight loss plan, can regulate the body’s metabolism, improve functioning of the digestive system and reduce appetite. Acupuncture releases endorphins that affect the digestive and hormonal systems; endorphins lower insulin and lipid levels in the bloodstream and less insulin is converted into body fat.
Auricular acupuncture points from both the TCM and Nogier systems are effective in weight loss. Acupoints on the ear trigger electrical pulses that suppress appetite and minimize overeating. The qi associated with needling these points helps the body to function against weight gain. Additional body points may be included which regulate the metabolic rate.
To attain permanent weight loss, treatments twice weekly until the target weight is reached are recommended, followed by maintenance treatments. For more information about acupuncture for weight loss call Dr. Richard Browne, Acupuncture Physician, at (305) 595-9500.
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