Obesity with acupuncture

Obesity & Acupuncture | Dr. Yang | Brussels

What is obesity?

Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines:

⚕️ Body Mass Index (BMI)

≥25 = Overweight
≥30 = Obesity

BMI = weight (kg) / height² (m²)

⚕️ Waist circumference

□ Female: ≥89 cm = unhealthy
□ Male: ≥102 cm = unhealthy

Measured above hip bone, below rib cage

⚡ Source: World Health Organization Fact sheet N°311

What causes obesity?

The fundamental cause is an energy imbalance between calories consumed and calories expended. Globally, there has been:

Increased intake of energy-dense foods high in fat
Increased physical inactivity due to sedentary work, changing transportation, and urbanization

⚕️ Genetics & beyond: Science shows genetics play a role in obesity, but not all predisposed individuals become obese. Research continues to identify which genes contribute most. Obesity is often caused by factors largely beyond an individual's control.

Obesity is a chronic disease

The WHO recognises that in this century, obesity has prevalence similar to or higher than malnutrition and infectious diseases. Without drastic measures, more than 50% of the world population will be obese by 2025.

Pre-obesity and obesity demand a joint strategy: promoting healthy eating habits, active lifestyle, and making appropriate treatment and aftercare available.

Childhood obesity

Particularly concerning is the growing incidence of childhood obesity in Europe. Childhood obesity — especially during the second decade of life — is now acknowledged as an increasingly strong predictor of adult obesity, particularly for extremely overweight children of obese parents. It has damaging social, economic, and health consequences.

How acupuncture supports weight management

Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) do not replace healthy eating and exercise, but they can be a valuable complementary tool to address underlying imbalances that make weight loss difficult.

⚕️ Reduces appetite & food cravings
⚕️ Improves metabolism & digestion
⚕️ Lowers stress & emotional eating
⚕️ Enhances sleep quality
⚕️ Regulates hormones (insulin, cortisol, leptin)
⚕️ Supports motivation & energy levels

⚡ Our approach: Acupuncture points are selected to target specific patterns — such as spleen qi deficiency, liver qi stagnation, or damp-heat — based on your individual TCM diagnosis. Often combined with auricular (ear) acupuncture to help control appetite.

Obesity & weight management