Randomized trial of Tapas Acupressure Technique for weight loss maintenance.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is an urgent public health problem, yet only a few clinical trials have systematically tested the efficacy of long-term weight-loss maintenance interventions. This randomized clinical trial tested the efficacy of a novel mind and body technique for weight-loss maintenance. METHODS: Participants were obese adults who had completed a six-month behavioral weight-loss program prior to randomization. Those who successfully lost weight were randomized into either an experimental weight-loss maintenance intervention, Tapas Acupressure Technique (TAT®), or a control intervention comprised of social-support group meetings (SS) led by professional facilitators. TAT combines self-applied light pressure to specific acupressure points accompanied by a prescribed sequence of mental steps. Participants in both maintenance conditions attended eight group sessions over six months of active weight loss maintenance intervention, followed by an additional 6 months of no intervention. The main outcome measure was change in weight from the beginning of the weight loss maintenance intervention to 12 months later. Secondary outcomes were change in depression, stress, insomnia, and quality of life. We used analysis of covariance as the primary analysis method. Missing values were replaced using multiple imputation. RESULTS: Among 285 randomized participants, 79% were female, mean age was 56 (standard deviation (sd) = 11), mean BMI at randomization was 34 (sd = 5), and mean initial weight loss was 9.8 kg (sd = 5). In the primary outcome model, there was no significant difference in weight regain between the two arms (1.72 kg (se 0.85) weight regain for TAT and 2.96 kg (se 0.96) weight regain for SS, p < 0.097) Tests of between- arm differences for secondary outcomes were also not significant. A secondary analysis showed a significant interaction between treatment and initial weight loss (p < .036), with exploratory post hoc tests showing that greater initial weight loss was associated with more weight regain for SS but less weight regain for TAT. CONCLUSIONS: The primary analysis showed no significant difference in weight regain between TAT and SS, while secondary and post hoc analyses indicate direction for future research.

Adherence to, and Satisfaction with, the Self-Acupressure Intervention in the LIFE Weight-Loss Maintenance Study.

BACKGROUND: The LIFE study was a randomized controlled trial assessing the impact of a self-acupressure intervention, Tapas Acupressure Technique® (TAT®), on weight-loss maintenance. The primary analysis showed no significant difference between TAT and social support (SS) for weight-loss maintenance, while exploratory post hoc tests suggested that, among participants with highest initial weight-loss, those in the TAT condition regained less weight than those in the SS condition. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the current study was to assess adherence to, and satisfaction with, the experimental self-acupressure intervention in the LIFE weight loss maintenance trial. DESIGN: This was a secondary analysis of adherence and satisfaction patterns in a large randomized controlled trial. SETTING: The study was conducted at a prominent health maintenance organization in the Pacific Northwest. SUBJECTS: This study involved 142 obese participants who had lost >10 pounds in a conventional weight-loss program and who were randomized to the experimental acupressure intervention. INTERVENTIONS: The experimental intervention (n=142) arm consisted of instruction and application of a self-acupressure intervention, the Tapas Acupressure Technique® (TAT®). OUTCOME MEASURES: The outcome sought was self-reported satisfaction and frequency of TAT practice. RESULTS: Sixty-six percent of TAT participants attended at least 6 of 8 intervention sessions. More than 80% of participants reported practicing TAT at home, on average, at least 2 days per week. Sixty two percent reported practicing <10 minutes per session, while 27% reported practicing 10-20 minutes per session. Higher satisfaction scores were significantly correlated with less weight regain (p=0.001). Frequency of TAT practice was not significantly associated with changes in weight, stress, insomnia, depression, or quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest moderate acceptance of, and adherence to, the TAT intervention. Further research is required to identify and achieve optimal home-practice levels of self-acupressure techniques.

Randomized trial of Tapas Acupressure Technique for weight loss maintenance: rationale and study design.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this article is to present the rationale, study design, and methods of an ongoing randomized controlled trial assessing the efficacy of an energy psychology intervention, Tapas Acupressure Technique (TAT), to prevent weight regain following successful weight loss. DESIGN: This is a randomized controlled trial. SETTINGS/LOCATION: The study is being conducted at a large group-model health maintenance organization (HMO). SUBJECTS: The study subjects are adult members of an HMO. INTERVENTIONS: TAT is being compared to a self-directed social support comparison intervention. OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure is weight-loss maintenance at 6 and 12 months post-randomization. CONCLUSIONS: This randomized controlled trial will test the efficacy of an energy psychology intervention, TAT, by comparing it with a self-directed social support group intervention. This is, to our knowledge, the largest randomized controlled study to date of an energy psychology intervention. Positive findings would support the use of TAT as a tool to prevent weight regain following successful weight loss.