Abstract

HERNANDEZ GARCIA, Sandra Haydee et al. Auriculotherapy on the treatment of exogenous obesity in children. Rev Ciencias Médicas [online]. 2013, vol.17, n.3, pp.25-37. ISSN 1561-3194.

Introduction: the epidemic of obesity and overweight has been outnumbered by three in less than two decades affecting the youngest individuals. Objective: to assess the effect of Auriculotherapy in the treatment of exogenous obesity in children from 5 to 18 years old in Pinar del Rio province who were referred to the Natural and Traditional Medicine Department at "Pepe Portilla" Children Provincial Hospital from January 2010-June 2011. Material and methods: a quasi-experimental, longitudinal, prospective research was carried out having as a target group 120 children who attended to the hospital. The sample per-decision (n=100) was subdivided into two groups of 50 children each one. Group I, together with diet treatment and physical exercise, auricular points were added; Group II was treated with diet and physical exercise. A survey was also applied. The variables studied were: age, sex, full-time breastfeeding, and achievement of a complementary food scheme, predisposition towards diseases, poor food habits, and per capita family income along with geographical origin. Methods of descriptive statistics were used; applying chi square test with a level of significance of alpha 0, 05%. Results: female sex prevailed in both groups (66%) and the group from 5 to 11 years old. Not full-time breastfeeding (83%), first-side obese families (70%) wrong achievement of food scheme (62%) were considered triggering factors of exogenous obesity. Poor food habits (95%), urban origin (68%) and higher per capita family income (80%) were predisposition factors towards the exaggerated weight increase. Cardiovascular complications were the most important (60%). There was a good response and the treatment was faster in those treated with Auriculotherapy. Conclusions: Auriculotherapy resulted in an effective treatment for exogenous obesity and it is well-accepted by children and their parents.

Keywords : Auriculotherapy; Obesity [classification].

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )