The Effect of Acupuncture on Sarcopenia and Obesity in Patients With Sarcopenic Obesity.

Sarcopenic obesity was first defined by Baumgartner as the co-occurrence of sarcopenia and obesity, measured using DEXA (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry). It is characterized by the simultaneous occurrence of high adiposity and sarcopenia; the term was initially coined to describe low skeletal muscle mass, strength, and physical function, initially diagnosed in the elderly but present across the entire age spectrum. Combining the effects of both sarcopenia and obesity, sarcopenic obesity has been associated with a lower quality of life and greater disability, morbidity, and mortality compared to obesity or sarcopenia alone. The lack of accurate prevalence rates for sarcopenic obesity stems from the absence of a consistent definition for sarcopenia or obesity. In a population-based cohort using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data applying FNIH criteria, sarcopenic obesity rates were found to be 12.6% in men and 33.5% in women, and these rates increased with age, reaching 27.5% in men and 48% in women over 80 years of age. The pathogenesis of sarcopenic obesity is multifactorial; the interaction between aging, sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy dietary habits, and insulin resistance, systemic inflammation, and oxidative stress leads to a quantitative and qualitative decrease in muscle mass and function, and a parallel increase in fat mass. Common etiological factors affect both muscle and fat mass. Current definitions of sarcopenic obesity are based on individual definitions of sarcopenia and obesity, but there is currently no consensus defining cut-off values for either of these conditions, making it difficult to reach an accurate diagnosis of sarcopenic obesity. In sarcopenic obesity, anthropometric measurements (weight, BMI, waist circumference) are normal or high, and imaging (DEXA, BIA, CT, MRI) shows high fat mass and low muscle mass. Acupuncture is derived from the Latin words for needle (acus) and piercing (punctura). In Western languages, it is written as acupuncture. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is believed that diseases are caused by disruptions in the flow of life energy (Qi) circulating in channels called meridians in the body. Acupuncture aims to correct the disrupted energy flow by inserting needles into specific points on the meridians in the body. The key to achieving the desired result in acupuncture is knowing where to stimulate the skin and inserting the needles appropriately. As one of the oldest medical treatments and an important part of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture has been widely used in the treatment of various diseases for at least 3000 years. Meanwhile, it is also one of the most popular complementary and alternative approaches, supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Numerous studies have reported that acupuncture is widely used in the treatment of obesity. Current evidence-based reviews have shown that acupuncture is effective in treating obesity. It has been suggested that acupuncture is an effective treatment for simple obesity rather than a placebo effect. In our study, the investigators aimed to reveal the effect of acupuncture on sarcopenia and obesity in patients with sarcopenic obesity.

Inclusion criteria

• Having the mental and physical capacity to adapt to the work process
• Being between 18-75 years of age
• Being able to ambulate independently or with support
• Having a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnancy
• Infection
• Pacemaker
• Peripheral circulatory disorder
• Known concomitant malignancy, end-stage organ failure
• Known concomitant central nervous system and/or peripheral nervous system disease
• History of genetic disease
• Coagulopathy
• Having received acupuncture within the last 6 months