Obesity or overweight is a chronic pathological condition that depends on many factors. It is an excessive accumulation of fat or general hypertrophy of adipose tissue. Obesity is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, apnea, stroke, osteoarthritis, cancer and dermatological problems. 30% of cases are due to genetic reasons and 70% social.

What defines overweight? To be objective, the Body Mass Index is used as reference. A BMI of 20-25 is considered healthy, >25 is overweight and >30 is considered morbid obesity. Another reference measure is waist circumference: in men >102 cm and >88 cm in women.

For Traditional Chinese Medicine, obesity is accumulation of Phlegm and Dampness. The organs related to this are Stomach, Large Intestine, Spleen and Kidney.

Acupuncture can help regulate the energetic disharmony that promotes obesity but the treatment to lose weight must be complemented with adequate diet and physical activity.

Causes of obesity

1) Accumulation of heat and dampness in ST and LI

• Inadequate diet: excess of fats, fried foods, sweets that create heat and dampness.
• Emotional problem: stagnates Liver-Qi and in the long term produces fire. Anxiety, nervousness that is tried to appease by eating.

2) Deficiency of SP/ST-Qi

Weak Earth does not transform and transport food well generating dampness. Constitutional.

3) Deficiency of Kidney-Yang

Constitutional.

Obesity due to heat accumulation in Yang Ming

See:Stomach-Heat

• Strong appetite
• Eats large quantities
• Constipation, with dry and hard stools
• Dry mouth
• Thirst, likes cold drinks
• Profuse sweating
• Abdominal distention
• Halitosis
• Nervousness
• Scanty urination
• Red tongue with yellow and thick coating
• Rapid and slippery pulse

Treatment

• Eliminate Phlegm Dampness: ST-25, SP-15, LI-11, SP-9, ST-40
• Eliminate heat and calm anxiety: ST-37, ST-44, LR-3, GB-8 (food addiction), CV-9 eliminates fluid, ST-34

Obesity due to deficiency of SP/ST-Qi

See also:Deficiency of Spleen and Stomach-Yang

• Poor appetite
• Abdominal distention
• Loose stools
• Fatigue
• Pale complexion
• Sweating with minimal effort
• Profuse urination
• Heaviness in limbs and head
• Swollen tongue, with teeth marks and thick coating
• Fine and weak pulse

Treatment

• Eliminate Phlegm Dampness: ST-25, SP-15, LI-11, SP-9, ST-40
• Tonify Spleen and Stomach: ST-36, BL-20, CV-6

Obesity due to deficiency of Kidney-Yang

This is the case of women in menopause or with hypothyroidism, who gain weight even though they eat little and find it very difficult to lose it. See:Deficiency of Kidney-Yang

• Poor appetite
• Eats little
• Constipation (lacks strength to push) but with loose stools
• Fatigue
• Cold, cold in limbs and back
• Spontaneous sweating
• Weakness of legs and lumbar region
• Menstrual alterations (delayed)
• Dizziness
• Pale tongue with thin coating
• Weak and fine pulse.

Treatment

• Eliminate Phlegm Dampness: ST-25, SP-15, LI-11, SP-9, ST-40
• Tonify Kidney-Yang: Moxa BL-23, CV-4, SP-4 (Chong Mai, sea of food) ST-30

Auriculotherapy treatment

Points that can be used (choose): Shen Men, Mouth, Hunger, Endocrine, ST, SP, LI, LR, HT, TE. See: Auriculotherapy Treatments