| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立臺北護理健康大學 === 中西醫結合護理研究所 === 100 === This study aimed to evaluate the effect of auricular acupressure on body composition (weight, height, BMI, wrist circumference, hip circumference, arm circumference, body fat) and heart rate variability (HRV) in overweight women. Methods :This was a purposive sampling design study. In this prospective study, a body mass index (BMI) of 24–27 kg/㎡ was used as a screening test for being overweight from a hospital in Taiwan. The study enrolled from 1 July 2011 – 30 August 2011. 90 participants were fit into our criteria, however, only a total of 85 overweight women aged 19–45 years were recruited, out of which 4 subjects discontinued the study. The remaining 81 subjects were randomized into the experimental group (n =27), the sham experimental group (n =27), and the control group (n =27). The experimental group (n =27) received auricular acupressure thrice daily for 5 consecutive days at the endocrine point and the spleen point. After a 2-day rest period, the procedure was performed on the contralateral ear. The sham experimental group (n =27) also received the same treatment as the experimental group, but without Vaccaria seeds. The control group (n =27) did not undergo auricular acupressure. Body composition and HRV values were measured at 0, 4th, and 8th weeks. Diet lesson was also given at 0 and 4 weeks. A total of 81 subjects completed this study.
Results :This study aimed to evaluate the effect of auricular acupressure at the endocrine point and the spleen point on body composition (i.e., body weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, arm circumference, and body fat percentage) and HRV in overweight women. All data were analyzed using SPSS 17.0 for Windows software. Mean, SD, Kendall’s W test, paired sample t-test, one-way ANOVA were used to compare 3 groups. A P value of <0.05 was considered significant. The results showed that all composition (weight, BMI, wrist circumference, hip circumference, arm circumference, body fat) decreased in both experimental group and control group (P <0.05). The sham experimental group received the same treatment as the experimental group, but without Vaccaria seeds, also showed that wrist circumference, hip circumference, arm circumference, body fat decreased (P <0.05). Nevertheless, there was no significant difference in HRV among the three groups.
Conclusion :Our finding suggests that auricular acupressure treatment can improve body composition, although no significant effect was observed on the HRV in overweight women.
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