Acupuncture Weight Loss Is Ideal in Winter
It seems there's a common belief: every summer, people flock to dieting. However, recently, Dr. Zhu Wei, deputy chief physician at Beijing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital’s acupuncture department, pointed out that winter is actually the ideal season for weight loss.
Dr. Zhu explained that many patients come to his clinic just before marriage, struggling to fit into wedding attire due to excess weight. It’s understandable why summer sees peak dieting—light clothing exposes body shape, making appearance a concern. Conversely, winter’s cold weather means thicker clothes hide bulky figures, and cumbersome dressing hinders regular exercise, leading many to abandon winter weight loss efforts. Thus, the pattern of “dieting in spring and summer, stopping in autumn and winter” emerges naturally.
Why is winter suitable for weight loss? Dr. Zhu noted that humans, like nature, follow the cycle of “spring growth, summer flourishing, autumn harvest, winter storage.” Winter is the best season to store heat and fat. Cold weather increases appetite while shorter days reduce physical activity—key factors contributing to weight gain. Moreover, traditional Chinese medicine holds that obesity often stems from spleen-stomach imbalance and low metabolism. Compared to summer, winter is precisely when digestive function declines. When digestion slows, ingested nutrients fail to convert into vital energy and instead accumulate as fat. Therefore, beginning prevention and treatment in winter is wiser.
At Beijing TCM Hospital’s acupuncture department, many “weight-loss seekers” arrive after exhausting all other methods without success. Dr. Zhu explains that when metabolism is imbalanced—what TCM calls “exhausted heart and spleen”—the “heart” refers not just to the organ but to the entire nervous system, and the “spleen” encompasses the endocrine and digestive systems. Any dysfunction in either system can cause obesity. Thus, acupuncture for weight loss isn’t targeted fat reduction; rather, it’s a holistic approach to restoring yin-yang balance, harmonizing qi and blood, and normalizing organ function—natural, comprehensive weight management. Reporters observed that patients receive varying numbers of needles—some up to 40–50, others only 10 or so.
Many commercial providers claim their weight-loss treatments “never rebound.” Consumers often ask: “Will it rebound?” As a TCM weight-loss expert, Dr. Zhu stresses that no method guarantees permanent results. For those whose obesity stems from lifestyle and dietary habits, reverting to old patterns after losing weight renders the effort futile. However, for those with metabolic disorders causing simple obesity, acupuncture shows rapid, lasting results with minimal rebound risk. Thus, acupuncture remains a safe and effective option. Dr. Zhu also emphasizes there’s no such thing as “sealing acupoints”—a myth created by vendors to exploit customers.