Japanese doctors, members of the European Association for the Study of Obesity, have found that ear acupuncture using metal balls combined with a diet leads to reductions in weight, body mass index, and lumbar fat deposits. The results of their study were presented at the European Obesity Congress.
According to the authors, using balls instead of needles makes the procedure more accessible, as it does not require special skills. The balls are attached to six points in the ear and stimulate the nerves and organs that regulate appetite, satiety and hunger.
The study included 81 men—all of whom were overweight. At the start of the experiment, the scientists measured their weight, BMI, and waist size. For three months, balloons were attached to the ears of all volunteers, which were held in place with surgical tape. Thus, the participants consistently received the same pressure on each of the six acupuncture points. Balls were changed twice a week during hospital visits. Participants also followed a healthy diet and kept a diary.
At the end of the study, the volunteers lost an average of 10.4 cm in waist circumference (from an average of 98.4 cm to 88 cm at baseline) and 4% of total body fat.