Can acupuncture help rebuild muscle while fighting obesity?
NCT ID NCT07797140
First seen Sep 01, 2026 · Last updated Sep 02, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This trial tests whether adding acupuncture to a diet and exercise program helps people with sarcopenic obesity, a condition where low muscle mass and high body fat occur together. Researchers will compare two groups: one receiving only diet and exercise, and another receiving the same program plus acupuncture sessions. The study measures changes in muscle mass, weight, and grip strength to see if acupuncture offers extra benefits.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Acupuncture, a traditional Chinese medicine technique involving needle insertion at specific body points, combined with a diet and exercise program.
- What this could lead to
- If it works, adding acupuncture to diet and exercise could offer a new way to improve muscle mass and reduce obesity in people with sarcopenic obesity.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small early-stage trial with only 28 participants, so results may not apply broadly. Acupuncture is generally safe but may cause minor bruising or discomfort.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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28 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Apr 2024
- Expected to finish
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Sep 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 75 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Having the mental and physical capacity to adapt to the work process 2. Being between 18-75 years of age 3. Being able to ambulate independently or with support 4. Having a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2 Exclusion Criteria: 1. Pregnancy 2. Infection 3. Pacemaker 4. Peripheral circulatory disorder 5. Known concomitant malignancy, end-stage organ failure 6. Known concomitant central nervous system and/or peripheral nervous system disease 7. History of genetic disease 8. Coagulopathy 9. Having received acupuncture within the last 6 months
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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.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Ankara Bilkent City Hospital
Ankara, Çankaya, 06800, Turkey (Türkiye)
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