The Use of Complementary and Alternative Treatments in Adolescent Obesity: A Narrative Review

Mahesh Shrestha, Ann Harris, Teresa Bailey, Urvi Savant and Dilip R. Patel ()
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Mahesh Shrestha: Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Homer Stryker MD School of Medicine, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI 49008, USA
Ann Harris: Department of Medical Library, Homer Stryker MD School of Medicine, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI 49008, USA
Teresa Bailey: College of Pharmacy, Ferris State University, Big Rapids, MI 49307, USA
Urvi Savant: Homer Stryker School of Medicine, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI 49007, USA
Dilip R. Patel: Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Homer Stryker MD School of Medicine, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI 49008, USA

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 2, 1-15

Abstract: Adolescent obesity is a growing global health problem all around the world. We reviewed the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for adolescent obesity, examining improvements in BMI or any metabolic indices of obesity. We performed a PubMed and Scopus search for articles on CAM treatments in adolescents aged 12–17 years, and included all studies with subjects in that age range. Out of 226 PubMed articles and 14 Scopus articles, 28 articles from PubMed and 1 article from Scopus fit our criteria. Most CAM studies that showed some improvement in BMI were acupuncture- or yoga-based. Yoga-based interventions showed a BMI reduction of 1–2 points, which is similar to results achieved in studies based on physical activity and Orlistat, a weak anti-obesity medication; meanwhile, acupuncture-based studies showed a slightly higher BMI reduction of 2–4 points, similar to that achieved with Liraglutide, a GLP-1 agonist that is a good anti-obesity medication. Herbs and supplements showed improvement in metabolic markers of obesity. Stress interventions in mind–body interventions, music skip-rope exercise, and creative drama in physical activity-based interventions also showed improvement in BMI. Although many of the studies reviewed were RCTs, the small sample size of those RCTs is a limiting factor. There may be a role for investigating this topic in larger populations to generate more effective conclusions.

Keywords: adolescent obesity; complementary and alternative treatment; body mass index (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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