Low-level laser acupuncture to improve body shape and composition in overweight menopausal women
Effects of a Multi-acupoint Laser Therapy Device on Body Shape and Body Composition in Obese Menopausal Women
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
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Ages | 45 Years to 55 Years |
| Sex | Female |
| Sponsor | Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Keelung, Taiwan) |
| Trial ID | NCT07472881 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
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.
Who should consider this trial
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.
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.
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 performed: 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.
Eligibility criteria
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 this trial is running
Keelung, Taiwan
- 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
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.