Ear zaps could help shed extra pounds when drugs fall short
NCT ID NCT07619989
First seen Jun 06, 2026
Summary
This pilot study tests whether a gentle electrical stimulation of the ear (taVNS) can help overweight or obese people lose more weight when they haven't lost enough on the medication tirzepatide alone. 24 participants will receive either active ear stimulation or a sham (fake) stimulation for 12 weeks, alongside their regular medication. The main goal is to see if the active stimulation leads to greater weight loss.
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This is a summary of
the original study
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Contacts and locations
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Study contacts
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Contact
Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
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Contact
Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
Locations
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Department of Endocrinology, the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School
RECRUITINGNanjing, Jiangsu, 210008, China
Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) plus tirzepatide
What this could lead to
If it works, this could offer a non-drug way to help people lose more weight when medication alone isn't enough.
What could go wrong
This is a very small, early pilot study with only 24 people, so results may not apply broadly. The nerve stimulation may cause discomfort or not provide added benefit.
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.