Obesity is a complex condition and a growing health threat. Obesity is defined by abnormal fat accumulations which may have a negative impact on one’s health [1]. It can be measured using the Body Mass Index (BMI) and the BMI cut-point categories for overweight and obese are 25–29.9 kg/m² and ≥30 kg/m² respectively. For Asian populations, the cut-point categories for overweight and obese are 23–27.5 kg/m² and ≥27.5 kg/m² for overweight and obese respectively [2]. Due to unhealthy fat accumulations, possible health complications may include metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, or psychological issues such as low self-esteem [3], [4]

One current obesity treatment option is to encourage behavioral change. However, weight loss based on behavioral changes might be difficult to maintain and the rate of relapse is high, with more than 90% of people who lose weight from dieting regaining it in 3–5 years [5]. Another option is weight-loss surgery and the use of pharmacological drugs such as Sibutramine and Orlistat, but there is a chance of developing harmful side effects [6]. Hence, there is a growing need to develop safer and more reliable alternatives for obesity treatment.

An alternative gaining recognition is acupuncture treatment. Examples of acupuncture techniques include Manual Acupuncture (MA), Electroacupuncture (EA), and Auricular Acupuncture (AA). Various systematic reviews have evaluated the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in obesity treatment with promising results [7], [8]. Hence, acupuncture could be a viable alternative for obesity treatment [9]. However, males and females have different body constitutions, and the mechanisms of action (MOA) in the two genders are not well understood [10]. Therefore, obesity treatment for different genders should differ to meet the needs of individual patients.

Previous research has found that obesity affects more women than men in most countries [11], [12]. An estimate in 2014 revealed that 2.3% of men and 5.0% of women were severely obese, with a BMI of 35 kg/m2 or higher [13]. This tendency has continued and thus our study will use a systematic review and meta-analysis approach to assess the benefits of acupuncture on weight reduction in obese female adult patients.