Local Buzz: CUHK research review finds that traditional Chinese medicine may be an effective obesity treatment

A research review compiled by the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), published in the May 2012 edition of Obesity Reviews, concludes that Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) and acupuncture may be as effective in treating obesity as their western, pharmaceutical counterparts, with fewer side effects. The study was commissioned by the Hong Kong Hospital Authority. Here are some key takeaways from the study:

• The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that obesity affects almost six percent of Chinas population, and a 2012 report from Johns Hopkins University stated that twenty percent of China's children are overweight.
• CUHK compiled data from studies (written in Chinese, English, Korean and Japanese) on CHM/acupuncture and weight loss from a total of 12 electronic databases. This research was collected up until the 28th of February, 2012.
• The report's authors claim that, over a period of four months, use of herbs can result in weight loss of around 5.8 kilograms, while acupuncture can produce a loss of 4.1kg.
• The herbs most commonly and successfully used for weight loss included "huang quin" (Baical Skullcap root) and "shanzha" (hawthorn fruit)
• The most effective acupressure points used were those in the ear, aimed at the spleen and the stomach, and the points in the leg known as "Sanyinjiao" (near the ankle) and "Zusanli" (just below the knee)
• The study's conclusion: "CHM and acupuncture were more effective than placebo or lifestyle modification in reducing body weight. They had a similar efficacy as the Western anti-obesity drugs but with fewer reported adverse effects. However, these conclusions were limited by small sample size and low quality of methodologies."

A large-scale clinical trial is in the works for next January, to further provide evidence for or disprove the conclusions of the CUHK report.

Food Hero Tuesday: TFT Japan Food Team!

Note from the Editor: Every Tuesday, TFT HK will bring you a post or article from/about one of our local or global food heroes. These are people who inspire us, and whose visions align with the values that TFT espouses and promotes. This week's post is from a member of the Table for Two Japan Food Team, dietician Shoko Ohno, who comments upon an article that addresses current trends in global obesity and food imbalance. TFT Japan Food Team, we at TFT HK salute you!

"Thoughts on 'The Weight of Nations' article"

Author: Shoko Ohno, Certified Dietitian, TFT Food Team
Editor: Shoko Iijima, TFT Food Team
Original Texts (in Japanese): http://fd4-tablefortwo.blogspot.jp/2012/06/blog-post_22.html

Throughout my many years as a dietitian, I’ve always believed that the “obesity problem” must not be painted as an issue of individual choice.

I believe we must, first and foremost, learn to treat people of every size with kindness and compassion. Recently, I found an article from the United States, which cited the fact that one in three Americans suffers from obesity, and that there is a human rights group for overweight people. This group is called the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA). I agree that the “sizists,” those who discriminate against overweight people, should not be tolerated. We cannot stand by and accept such behavior.

Local Buzz: Obesity in Hong Kong

Most of us are aware, by now, that obesity has become a global epidemic. More and more of us are overweight and obese every year--and not just in the Western world. Rates of obesity are rising at an alarming rate in Asian countries as well, and are especially high in Hong Kong.