Effect of Auricular Acupoint Stimulation on Weight in Adults with Overweight or Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Abstract
Objectives: To systematically evaluate the effectiveness of auricular acupoint stimulation for weight reduction and metabolic outcomes in adults with overweight or obesity. Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Methods: Six electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Scopus) were searched from inception to 5 February 2026. The primary outcome was body weight; secondary outcomes included body mass index, waist circumference, and metabolic markers. Methodological quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist. For the primary outcome, a multilevel random-effects model was fitted using restricted maximum likelihood estimation, with small-sample-adjusted cluster-robust variance estimation (CR2) to account for dependent comparisons within studies. Subgroup analyses, meta-regression, sensitivity analyses, and publication bias assessments were also conducted. Results: A total of 20 studies were included in the systematic review, of which 14 contributed 15 comparisons to the primary meta-analysis of post-intervention body weight. The pooled effect was Hedges' g = -0.21 (95% CI: -0.42 to -0.01, p = 0.043). Heterogeneity estimates were I² = 46.6% (95% CI: 8.1-76.8%) and τ² = 0.06 (95% CI: 0.01-0.21), and the 95% prediction interval ranged from -0.71 to 0.29. Formal subgroup tests and univariate meta-regression yielded p values below 0.05 for publication year, funding status, and quality appraisal score. Sensitivity analyses produced estimates in the same direction, although the confidence interval included the null value in some leave-one-out analyses. Conclusions: The pooled estimate suggested a small reduction in post-intervention body weight with auricular acupoint stimulation, but the prediction interval included the null value, indicating uncertainty in the effect across comparable settings. Further well-designed trials with standardized intervention protocols are needed to clarify the magnitude and consistency of the effect.
From the paper
- Studies
Among the 20 included studies, 14 were published before 2019, 16 reported ethical approval, and 12 reported funding support.
- Result
Within these categories, the effect estimates were −0.45 (95% CI: −0.78 to −0.13) for studies published in 2019 or later, −0.50 (95% CI: −0.80 to −0.20) for studies without funding support, and −0.46 (95% CI: −0.78 to −0.14) for studies with quality appraisal scores at or above the mean.
Results, 3.4. Effect of Auricular Acupoint Stimulation on Weight
- Limitation
First, moderate heterogeneity was observed for the primary body-weight outcome, likely reflecting variation in treatment protocols, participant characteristics, concurrent interventions, and outcome assessment.
Quoted word for word from the full text on mdpi.com.
The paper
Anyang University; Chungbuk National University
Healthcare, Oct 6, 2026, Open access
