Plain-English translation of NCT05237089 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated · Translation generated · How we translate trials
Read our Obesity research guide →This study doesn't follow the usual testing phases — it may be an observational study or a different type of research.
This study is testing whether electroacupuncture — a modern form of acupuncture that uses small electrical pulses — can help people lose weight and prevent diabetes. About 256 people with excess weight and early signs of diabetes will receive either electroacupuncture treatment or a sham (fake) acupuncture treatment over 24 weeks. Researchers want to see if this treatment can help people lose at least 10% of their body weight and improve their blood sugar levels.
Obesity and diabetes are major health problems worldwide, and losing even 10% of body weight can prevent prediabetes from turning into full diabetes. While acupuncture is used widely in China to treat weight problems, doctors want solid proof that electroacupuncture actually works better than placebo (fake treatment) before recommending it more broadly.
You likely qualify if…
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You would visit the clinic twice a week for 24 weeks, receiving about 30-minute acupuncture sessions (either real or fake) along with health education advice. You will also have blood tests and possibly an abdominal MRI scan to measure your fat tissue and body composition. After the 24 weeks of treatment ends, you'll come back for follow-up visits over another 24 weeks so doctors can see if the effects last.
AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 11, 2026 · Not medical advice
China
Sponsor
Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Enrollment target
~256 participants
Started
September 2022
Primary completion
December 2024
This trial's estimated completion date has passed — the record may not be fully up to date.
Age range
18 Years – 65 Years
Last updated on clinicaltrials.gov in November 2022.
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Central contact
Shifen Xu, PhD
Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine
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