Low-level laser acupuncture to improve body shape and composition in overweight menopausal women
Official title: Effects of a Multi-acupoint Laser Therapy Device on Body Shape and Body Composition in Obese Menopausal Women
Run by Chang Gung Memorial Hospital · NCT07472881 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial will test whether adding low-level multi-acupoint laser acupuncture to WHO-recommended diet and exercise helps overweight or obese menopausal women lose weight and improve body composition.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 45 Years to 55 Years |
| Sex | Women only |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Keelung, Taiwan) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | March 16, 2026 |
| Main results expected | January 24, 2029 |
| Study ends | January 24, 2029 |
| Registry record updated | March 20, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07472881 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Women aged 45–55 who are menopausal or perimenopausal with BMI >24 kg/m² or waist-to-hip ratio >0.88, able to attend in-person sessions and without major active chronic diseases or current weight-loss treatments are ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
Women who are pregnant or possibly pregnant, have active chronic diseases under treatment, seizure disorders, coagulation problems or are currently undergoing weight-loss surgery or medication are excluded and unlikely to benefit from this protocol.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This randomized controlled trial will enroll 40 women aged 45–55 with BMI >24 kg/m² or waist-to-hip ratio >0.88 and randomize them to either multi-acupoint low-level laser therapy plus standardized diet and exercise guidance or to a sham laser control with the same lifestyle guidance. The experimental group receives 12 thirty-minute laser acupuncture sessions over six weeks targeting 10 acupoints, with assessments at baseline, mid-treatment, and post-treatment. Primary outcomes are changes in body composition (body fat mass and percentage, skeletal muscle mass, total weight, limb muscle mass, waist-to-hip ratio) and secondary outcomes include menopausal symptoms and satiety; safety and tolerability are monitored throughout. Statistical analysis uses t-tests, chi-square, correlation and regression with significance set at p < 0.05.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could help menopausal women achieve greater fat loss and improved muscle/waist measurements when added to standard diet and exercise.
How similar studies have gone: Some small trials of low-level laser acupuncture have reported modest body-composition or weight changes, but overall evidence is limited and results remain mixed.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Female participants aged 45 to 55 years * No cognitive impairment or major psychiatric disorder * Able to understand the study procedures and communicate with research staff * Body mass index (BMI) \> 24 kg/m² OR waist-to-hip ratio \> 0.88 Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnant or possibly pregnant women * Diagnosed chronic diseases currently under active treatment, including hepatitis, chronic kidney disease, chronic gastrointestinal disease, cardiovascular disease, or cancer * Systemic diseases such as hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, compensated liver cirrhosis, or autoimmune disorders * Currently receiving weight control treatment, including bariatric surgery or weight-loss medications * History of epilepsy or seizure disorder * Coagulation disorders or current use of anticoagulant therapy
Where it's running
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Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung Medical Center
Keelung, Taiwan, Taiwan Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Yu Wei Chang
- Email: yenlin@cgmh.org.tw
- Phone: 886-02-24313131#2677
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.