Study on the clinical effect of warm acupuncture in the treatment of simple obesity complicated with dyslipidemia (spleen deficiency and dampness obstruction type) and insulin resistance.

Abstract

To evaluate the effect of warm acupuncture on simple obesity complicated with dyslipidemia (spleen deficiency and dampness obstruction type). A retrospective analysis was conducted on 100 patients with obesity and dyslipidemia treated in Henan Provincial People's Hospital from January 2022 to December 2024. Patients were divided into a control group (conventional acupuncture) and an observation group (warm acupuncture) according to their acupuncture regimen. Changes in obesity indices (body weight, body mass index [BMI], body fat percentage [F%], waist circumference [WC], hip circumference [HC]), lipid metabolism parameters (total cholesterol [TC], triglycerides [TG], low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C], high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C]), insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), visceral fat index, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome scores were compared between the two groups. Quality of life (QoL) was assessed, and the incidence of adverse reactions was recorded. Before treatment, there were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the two groups (all P > 0.05). After treatment, both groups showed significant improvement in all measured indices compared to baseline levels (all P < 0.05). Notably, the warm acupuncture group demonstrated significantly better improvements in F%, lipid metabolism parameters, HOMA-IR, visceral fat index, TCM syndrome scores, and all domains of QoL compared with the control group (all P < 0.05). Although the warm acupuncture group showed a more pronounced numerical trend of reduction in waist circumference, hip circumference, body weight, and BMI, the differences in change values between the groups did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.058, 0.077, 0.296, and 0.072, respectively). There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups (P = 0.576). Warm acupuncture is effective in treating simple obesity with dyslipidemia. It significantly improves key metabolic parameters (including body fat percentage, lipid profile, and insulin resistance), reduces TCM symptom scores, and enhances patients' quality of life, without increasing adverse reactions. While its effects on absolute weight, BMI, and circumferences warrant further investigation, warm acupuncture represents a valuable and safe therapeutic option worthy of clinical consideration.