Canadians are overweight! At least about 11 million Canadians are overweight today. One of North American's fastest growing diseases is, in fact, obesity. Being overweight can contribute to or complicate factors in such conditions as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and many other medical conditions. Millions of dollars are spent each year by the weight loss industry offering the latest, greatest diet, eating regimen, exercise plan and club that they promise will help you lose weight.

A healthy diet and exercising are both recommended for losing weight, achieving and maintaining a healthy weight and enhancing overall health and sense of well-being. Acupuncture can be a vital component of your weight loss regimen by assisting in reducing your appetite without drugs or prepackaged diets.

Your Acupuncturist will interview you to determine the causes of your retaining excess weight. Whether your extra weight is because of an unhealthy diet, relative to physical injury or joint/muscle pain or lack of physical activity a customized plan will be developed for you by your Acupuncturist.

Acupuncture is an ancient form of Chinese medicine dating back over 6,000 years. Acupuncture utilizes a body map of energy pathways in the body called meridians. Specific organs and organ systems are linked to each meridian, which serve as pathways for vital energy that maintains overall health in the body.

Information about your lifestyle and daily routines as well as your health history will be discussed at your first meeting with the Acupuncturist. Any medications you are currently taking and/or therapies you are undergoing will also be important information in order for the Acupuncturist to have a full picture of potential reasons for your excess weight and discuss how your lifestyle, health, and other factors impact your weight.

The success rate of Acupuncture for controlling weight has been very high. Acupuncture helps reduce your appetite and can help curb sugar and carbohydrate cravings. The acupuncture treatments also restore and repair blocked meridians thus enhancing your health, increasing your energy level and reducing anxiety and irritability, which will in turn help with improved sleep and overall sense of well-being.

Your particular needs will determine your specialized treatment plan. The treatments involve the insertion of hair-thin needles into specific points in the body called acupoints. Each acupoint is selected to stimulate energy flow along the appropriate meridians in the body. The frequency and number of treatments that will be the most beneficial for you varies widely and will depend on your individual progress.

Acupuncture will certainly be a valuable tool to use in your weight loss journey. It cannot change your lifestyle, reduce the number of calories you consume or increase the amount of exercise you do. It can assist you though in appetite suppression, increased energy level and enhanced self-esteem.

Acupuncture is a safe, effective method to control weight. It also offers a treatment with no adverse side effects, making acupuncture an ideal choice for anyone striving to lose or maintain weight.