The effectiveness of auricular neuromodulation in childhood and adolescent obesity

Ourania Papadopoulou, Despoina Dimaki, Marianna Stavropoulou, Pelagia Tsakona, Ηlias Kallistratos and Alexandra Hristara Papadopoulou *

Department of Physiotherapy, School of Health Sciences, International University of Greece, Thessaloniki – Sindos.
 
Research Article
International Journal of Science and Research Archive, 2024, 11(01), 288–294.
Article DOI: 10.30574/ijsra.2024.11.1.1116
Publication history: 
Received on 26 November 2023; revised on 09 January 2024; accepted on 11 January 2024
 
Abstract: 
detrimental to a child's health. This condition predominantly stems from an interplay of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Key contributors include unhealthy dietary habits, insufficient physical activity, and prolonged engagement in sedentary activities, such as excessive use of mobile phones, computers, and television. Childhood obesity predisposes individuals to a spectrum of health complications, including cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and respiratory disorders. Additionally, it is associated with various psychological and social challenges. The rising prevalence of childhood obesity underscores its seriousness as a growing public health concern, with long-term implications for the health and well-being of affected children.
Results: The review identified four surveys that met the predefined outcomes. These studies provided substantial evidence supporting the use of auricular neuromodulation in addressing childhood obesity. Each of the four studies was a randomized clinical trial, focusing on children and adolescents who underwent auricular neuromodulation. This procedure involved the use of vaccaria (plant seeds), metal pellets and mustard seeds. The participants in this study were divided into two subgroups. The first group received intervention with the use of vaccaria and the second group was the control group where there was no intervention. This design facilitated the comparison of the given intervention against alternative treatments. The primary outcome measures included anthropometric parameters and assessments of body image, self-esteem, and depressive symptoms.
Conclusion: Recent studies have demonstrated that auricular neuromodulation using vaccaria seeds, mustard seeds and metal pellets yields positive results in treating childhood obesity. This conclusion is based on anthropometric outcome measures. These findings suggest that such neuromodulation techniques can be a viable option in the physiotherapeutic treatment of obesity in children and adolescents.
 
Keywords: 
Physiotherapy; Auricular Neuromodulation; Childhood Obesity; Adolescent Obesity
 
Full text article in PDF: 
 
Copyright information: 

Copyright © 2024 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0