OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of weight control on simple obese women between electroacupuncture and sit-up exercise. DESIGN: Randomized and crossover trial conducted from 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2002. The subjects were randomly divided into groups A and B. Group A received electroacupuncture treatment first while group B received sit-up exercise treatment first. After 6 weeks of treatment and 7 days of washout, group A switched to sit-up exercise treatment and group B received electroacupuncture treatment for another 6 weeks. PATIENTS: In total, 54 simple obese women, with waist circumference (WC) > 90 cm and body mass index (BMI) > 30 kg/m2, and who had not received any other weight control maneuver within the last 3 months. MEASUREMENT: The measurements of body weight (BW), BMI and WC were performed at the beginning, 6, 8 and 13 weeks. The data at different time periods were compared and expressed as % reductions. RESULTS: Electroacupuncture (n = 46) showed significant differences in the % reductions in BW (p = 0.001), BMI (p = 0.003) and WC (p = 0.005) compared with sit-up exercise. At the end of 13 weeks, there were no significant difference between groups A (n = 24) and B (n = 22) in all the measurements. At the end of the study, groups A and B showed significant differences in the % reductions in BW (p = 0.004; 0.001), BMI (p = 0.003; 0.021) and WC (p <= 0.001; 0.001) compared with the initial values. CONCLUSIONS: Electroacupuncture treatment is more effective than sit-up exercise in reducing weight and WC, making it an alternative treatment option for weight and WC control on obese women.

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