Can Acupuncture Help With Weight Loss?

Anna Vincenti
6 days ago
3 min read

What the science says about how acupuncture can help with weight loss.

Weight loss is one of the most common topics people ask me about in the clinic. So let’s talk honestly and evidence-based: can acupuncture help with weight loss?

Short answer: Acupuncture isn’t a magic fat-burning treatment. But research shows it can support weight loss and metabolic health, especially when combined with diet and lifestyle changes.

Let’s break down the science.

First: Weight loss is complex

Modern medicine recognises that weight is influenced by:

Hormones
Appetite regulation
Stress and sleep
Blood sugar and insulin
Inflammation
Gut health
Mental well-being

This is important because acupuncture affects many of these systems at once.

What research says overall (big picture)

A 2025 review of 64 trials found acupuncture significantly improved:

Body weight
BMI
Waist circumference
Blood test markers

Compared with the control groups. (ScienceDirect)

However, the authors also noted that study quality varies, meaning more high-quality trials are still needed. (ScienceDirect)

This is the honest reality of acupuncture research: promising results, but still developing.

Acupuncture works best alongside lifestyle changes

One of the most important findings in research:

Acupuncture works best as a supportive therapy, not a replacement for diet or exercise.

A 2024 meta-analysis of 25 randomised controlled trials (2,018 people) found that adding acupuncture to lifestyle changes led to greater improvements in:

Weight loss
BMI reduction
Body fat percentage
Waist circumference
Blood sugar control
Cholesterol levels (PMC)

In fact, participants receiving acupuncture plus lifestyle changes lost significantly more weight than those receiving lifestyle changes alone. (PMC)

This is a huge takeaway: Acupuncture may make healthy habits work better.

How acupuncture may help weight loss

Research suggests several biological mechanisms.

1. Appetite regulation & hormones

Studies suggest acupuncture may influence:

Ghrelin (hunger hormone)
Leptin (satiety hormone)
Appetite-related neurotransmitters (PMC)

This may help reduce cravings and emotional eating.

2. Blood sugar & insulin regulation

The same meta-analysis found acupuncture improved:

Fasting glucose
Insulin levels
Insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (PMC)

Why does this matter?

Insulin resistance is one of the biggest drivers of weight gain and stubborn fat.

3. Lipid metabolism (fat processing)

Research shows acupuncture may help reduce:

Total cholesterol
Triglycerides
LDL (“bad”) cholesterol (PMC)

This suggests acupuncture may influence how the body stores and burns fat.

4. Inflammation and metabolism

Studies suggest acupuncture may:

Increase anti-inflammatory cytokines
Reduce pro-inflammatory markers (PMC)

Chronic inflammation is strongly linked with obesity and metabolic disease.

5. Nervous system regulation (stress & emotional eating)

Stress is a huge driver of weight gain.Research suggests acupuncture may work through neuro-endocrine-immune regulation, affecting the nervous system and stress response. (PMC)

This is particularly relevant for people who:

Stress eat
Struggle with sleep
Feel constantly “wired and tired”

How much weight loss are we talking about?

A systematic review of RCTs found acupuncture led to average reductions of:

1.85 kg body weight
1.0 BMI reduction vs sham acupuncture (PMC)

This might sound modest, but remember:

This is without lifestyle change in some trials. Results are stronger when combined with diet and exercise.