Research progress on the mechanisms of electroacupuncture in the treatment of obesity

Obesity is a chronic metabolic syndrome, and unhealthy lifestyles contribute to a continuous rise in its prevalence. As a non-pharmacological intervention with mild adverse reactions, electroacupuncture has achieved favorable therapeutic effects on obesity and its complications in recent years. This paper reviews studies on the mechanisms of electroacupuncture for obesity over the past decade. Electroacupuncture exerts weight-reducing effects via multiple targets and pathways, including regulating appetite-related neurons and neuropeptides in the hypothalamus, facilitating browning of white adipose tissue and lipid metabolism modulation, maintaining intestinal flora homeostasis, alleviating inflammatory responses and improving insulin resistance. By summarizing research advances in relevant mechanisms, this review aims to provide novel theoretical evidence and therapeutic strategies for electroacupuncture in the treatment of obesity and associated disorders.