Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies
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Focus Alternat Complement Ther©2005 Pharmaceutical Press
Focus Altern Complement Ther 2005; 10: 38–9
To determine the feasibility, effect size and clinical impact of the Tapas Acupressure Technique (TAT) for future weight-loss maintenance study.
Ninety-two adult patients who lost at least 3.5 kg through a 3-month behavioural weight-loss programme were randomised to one of three weight-loss maintenance interventions: TAT, Self-Directed Support (SDS) or Qigong (QI). Each intervention included 10 h of instruction over 12 weeks. The main clinical outcome measure was weight change, assessed at 3 and 6 months after randomisation. Changes were assessed controlling for randomisation weight (ANCOVA).
There were no study-related adverse events. Attendance at weight maintenance was 72% for TAT, 48% for SDS and 60% for QI. The percentage providing 6-month data was 80% for TAT and 61% for both SDS and QI. At 3 months the TAT group regained 0.00 kg while the SDS group regained 0.35 kg (P = 0.71), but at 6 months the TAT gain was 0.25 kg vs. SDS gain of 1.5 kg (P = 0.13). A separation test (0.05 level, 0.95 power, delta = 1.36 kg) applied to the 6-month results was significant, indicating that TAT merits further research. Interviews suggested that QI proved too difficult for participants to practice and they regained more than with SDS.
TAT was a feasible intervention, warranting further study as a potential weight maintenance intervention.
Supported by a grant (R21 AT01190-02) from the National Center for Complementary/Alternative Medicine, National Institutes of Health, USA.
