A study of electrical conductance of meridian in the obese during weight reduction

Am J Chin Med. 2004;32(3):417-25. doi: 10.1142/S0192415X04002077.

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the electrical conductance of meridian in the obese during weight reduction. Ten obese including overweight (Body Mass Index, BMI > 26) and 30 healthy (non-overweight) people were recruited from Chung Yuan Christian University. The obese subjects were instructed to follow a weight reduction program that included diet control, exercise and oral intake of Prozac. A device, the design of which is based on the Ryodoraku theorem, was used to measure the electrical conductance of 12 meridians on both sides of the subjects. The results showed that: (1) the average coefficient of variation of the electrical conductances in 24 meridians of the obese group was statistically different from that of the healthy group (p < 0.05); (2) the average coefficient of variation of electrical conductance in the obese after weight reduction was significantly decreased than before the weight reduction program (p < 0.05); (3) the BMI and the electrical conductance of meridian was correlated in the obese (r = -0.77, p < 0.001) as well as in the healthy group (r = -0.92, p < 0.001). These findings suggest that electrical conductance of meridians can be a parameter to monitor weight, especially for obese people.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Body Mass Index
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Diet, Reducing
  • Electric Impedance
  • Exercise / physiology
  • Female
  • Fluoxetine / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Meridians*
  • Obesity / physiopathology*
  • Obesity / therapy
  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Weight Loss / physiology*

Substances

  • Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors
  • Fluoxetine