Some beauty salons and weight loss centers have exaggerated the effects of acupuncture in their misleading advertisements, leading to many misconceptions about acupuncture for weight loss, which is actually counterproductive for weight loss treatment.
Misconception 1: Visible results every day
Weight loss is not about losing weight, but about losing fat, and the same applies to acupuncture for weight loss. The more overweight someone is, the more fat they usually have, and the more noticeable the effects of acupuncture for weight loss will be.
For those who are not severely overweight, the effects of weight loss may not be as obvious. The weight loss effects are also related to whether it is a whole-body weight loss or a targeted weight loss, such as abdominal weight loss, which may be noticeable in terms of losing fat but not in terms of losing weight. Additionally, the effects of weight loss also depend on the characteristics of the fat, with soft fat being easier and more noticeable to lose, while hard fat may not show significant effects.
Any weight loss method requires gradual adjustments, and everyone's response to acupuncture is different, so continuous treatment is necessary.
Misconception 2: The more needles, the better
Many beauty salons and weight loss centers use dozens of needles at once, and customers may feel that more needles mean better results. In fact, acupuncture requires professional knowledge and follows certain principles. It focuses on selecting specific acupoints that truly have an effect on weight loss. Other random acupoints are useless, and if the wrong acupoints are accidentally stimulated, it may lead to adverse effects.
Misconception 3: Acupuncture is prone to infection
The needles used in acupuncture are very fine, and for the skin, regular acupuncture causes minimal trauma. The body of a normal person generally repairs itself quickly, and unless there is an infection due to other damage, daily activities such as bathing and swimming should not be affected by body acupuncture.
Misconception 4: Cannot wash hair when using ear acupuncture
When using ear acupuncture, it is not that you cannot wash your hair, but rather, you should try to avoid wetting the ear. The reason why regular ear acupuncture should not be exposed to water is to prevent the adhesive tape from losing its stickiness. However, if it is ear embedding (a type of ear acupuncture), it needs to avoid water, so you can try wearing ear covers while washing your hair.
Misconception 5: Acupuncture for weight loss is a permanent solution
Acupuncture for weight loss involves adjusting the body, and it requires repeated treatments and continuous reinforcement to establish a new state. Doctors recommend intensive and high-frequency treatments for at least three months (up to half a year to a year for severely obese individuals). It is a gradual adjustment process, and after the treatment course is completed, the weight can generally be maintained at normal levels for one to three years.
