The Effects of the Combined Therapy of Acupuncture and Yoga Exercise on Weight Loss

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The aim of this study is to examine the effects of combination of acupuncture and ayuveda yoga exercise on weight loss for the overweight.

Detailed Description
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Obesity is a common health problem in developed countries. At present,the medical staff have already been alerted that the obesity is a kind of disease actually and one of the epidemic diseases which erode the human health in the world. It is not only about the person's health but also a main public health problem. It has been caught to our attention that some diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases,diabetes, and high blood pressure are coming along with overweight and obesity. Recent studies had demonstrated a positive correlation between chronic diseases and obesity. There are many treatments for the obesity, in general, acupuncture may be an effective one. Acupuncture may suppress the people's appetite, slow down the stomach's creeping motion, and increase the stomach's evacuation time. Simultaneously, acupuncture controls the body through the absorption and storage of the calorie via the adjustment of the endocrine system. But we still need a more efficiency way to accelerate the body fat metabolism and decrease the storage of the fat in vivo. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the effects of combination of acupuncture and ayuveda yoga exercise on weight loss among the overweight.

Official Title
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To Evaluate the Effects of Weight-loss by the Combined Therapy of Acupuncture and Yoga Exercise

Conditions
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Obesity

Intervention / Treatment
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* Device: Acupuncture
* Behavioral: Yoga exercise


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: BMI > 24 Exclusion Criteria: Diagnosis of cancer.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 20 Years
Maximum Age: 50 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Other: Acupuncture controls<br>Acupuncture group will receive 30-minutes treatment three times a week for 3 months. | Device: Acupuncture<br>* Acupuncture about 30 mins will be performed by a traditional Chinese physician three times a week for 3 months.<br>|
| Experimental: acupuncture and yoga exercise<br>Subject will receive a combination of acupuncture and yoga exercise three times a week for 3 months. | Device: Acupuncture<br>* Acupuncture about 30 mins will be performed by a traditional Chinese physician three times a week for 3 months.<br>Behavioral: Yoga exercise<br>* Subject will receive regular 60-minutes yoga exercise three times a week for 3 months.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Reduce body mass index. | Outcome measure compares the change in body mass index during 3 months treatment. | Change from baseline in body mass index at 3 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Reduce waistline | Outcome measure compares the change in waistline during 3 months treatment. | Change from baseline in waistline at 3 months | 
| Change biochemical profile of blood | Outcome measure compares the changes in biochemical profile of blood including cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein/low-density lipoprotein/blood sugar during 3 months treatment. Peripheral blood will be collected at 2 different times. (1) baseline data: before intervention, (2) outcome data: at 3 months post-intervention. | Change from baseline in biochemical profile of blood at 3 months | 
| Immune modulation | Immune function will be assessed by blood analysis including lymphocyte subpopulations (Th1/ Th2/ Treg/ Th17), polarization (T-bet/ Gata-3/ Foxp3/ RORrt), its related cytokines (Th1: IL-12/ IFN-γ/ IL-27; Th2: IL-4/ IL-13/ IL-25; Th17: IL-17A/ IL-6/ IL-21; Treg: TGF-β/ IL-10) during 3 months treatment. Peripheral blood will be collected at 2 different times. (1) baseline data: before intervention, (2) outcome data: at 3 months post-intervention. | Change from baseline in lymphocyte profile and polarization at 3 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Obesity, ayuveda yoga exercise, acupuncture.