REVIEW article
Front. Endocrinol.
Sec. Obesity
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fendo.2025.1644381
Bridging East and West: Integrative Approaches to Obesity Management through Traditional Chinese Medicine
Provisionally accepted
- 1Baiyun Hospital of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese medicine, Guangzhou, China
- 2Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
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This study provides a comprehensive review of research pertaining to the treatment of obesity using traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). It encompasses fundamental theories, epidemiological data, pathological mechanisms, clinical practices, technological advancements, and directions for future research. In the section on fundamental theories, the etiology, pathogenesis, historical development, and theoretical foundations of obesity within TCM are examined. The current state of obesity has been analyzed through an epidemiological lens, along with the application of TCM and relevant clinical research findings. The pathological mechanism section evaluates the effect of TCM on metabolic regulation, inflammatory responses, and adipocyte functionality in the context of obesity. Clinical practices are illustrated through case studies of commonly utilized TCM prescriptions, acupuncture, moxibustion therapy, and integrative approaches combining traditional Chinese and Western medicine. The Technological Advancements section discusses the emergence of new formulations, modern diagnostic technologies, and personalized treatment strategies. The future outlook addresses potential research trajectories, prospects for integrating TCM with contemporary medical practices, and trends in international collaborations. Evidence suggests that TCM holds promise in various aspects of obesity treatment. However, further investigation is necessary to elucidate its efficacy and underlying mechanisms, enhance international cooperation and standardization efforts, and foster the advancement of TCM in obesity management.
Keywords: Obesity, wc, WHR, TCM, Energy Metabolism
Received: 10 Jun 2025; Accepted: 28 Aug 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Li, Liu and Zhang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Zhao Liu, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
Xiaolin Zhang, Baiyun Hospital of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese medicine, Guangzhou, China
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.