Will cupping for weight loss and uncontrolled diet lead to weight gain

Cupping for weight loss without controlling diet may lead to weight rebound or continued weight gain. Cupping mainly promotes metabolism by stimulating meridians, but without dietary management, excessive calorie intake can still be converted into fat accumulation. Weight changes are mainly related to factors such as calorie deficit, basal metabolic rate, cupping frequency, physical differences, and exercise coordination.

1. Heat gap: Although cupping can temporarily improve local blood circulation, it cannot directly consume a large amount of heat. If the daily calorie intake exceeds the expenditure, the excess energy will be stored in the form of fat. For example, a serving of fried chicken is about 500 calories, and it takes 90 minutes of brisk walking to offset it. It is difficult to achieve negative calorie balance solely by cupping.

2. Basal metabolic rate:

Cupping has limited and short-lived effects on basal metabolism. Adult women have a resting metabolism of about 1200-1500 calories per day, and overeating can still easily exceed the limit. Clinical data shows that individuals who simply remove cupping without controlling their diet have an average increase in body fat percentage of 2.3% after 3 months.

3. Cupping frequency:

Cupping 1-2 times a week is difficult to sustain and affects energy metabolism. Fat breakdown requires a sustained calorie deficit, and high-frequency cupping may cause skin damage, but low-frequency cupping cannot compensate for the effects of overeating.

4. Differences in constitution:

Patients with phlegm dampness constitution have a significant effect on edema after cupping, but visceral fat needs to be adjusted in combination with diet. Insulin resistant individuals are sensitive to carbohydrates, and uncontrolled intake of refined sugars can result in zero weight loss from cupping.

3. Exercise coordination: After cupping, muscle microcirculation improves, and combined exercise can enhance fat loss efficiency. Research shows that combining cupping with 150 minutes of high-intensity exercise per week can result in an additional weight loss of 1.8 kilograms compared to single cupping.

It is recommended to adopt a mild dietary control strategy, such as reducing 300-500 calories per day and choosing high protein, high fiber foods to prolong satiety. During cupping, it is recommended to drink more red bean and coix seed water to help with drainage and avoid a high salt and sugar diet that can counteract the effect. Maintaining 30 minute aerobic exercise three times a week, such as brisk walking, swimming, etc., can significantly improve the sustainability of cupping weight loss. If there are symptoms of skin bruising or fatigue, cupping should be paused in a timely manner and traditional Chinese medicine practitioners should be consulted to adjust the plan.