Ear Stapling for Weight Loss: Does it Work?
Ear Stapling for weight loss has skyrocketed in popularity as an option to assist those struggling to lose weight. Ear stapling for weight loss involves inserting a staple in the ear (apparently a stomach acupuncture point). Ear stapling for weight loss is similar to getting your ears pierced, but with, perhaps, a little more pain. Weight The purpose of ear stapling is to help ease hunger pains, decrease appetite and assist in weight loss. With so many Americans increasingly becoming obese each year, it is no wonder so many people are turning to alternate options for weight loss. The staples, which are left in your ears for several months, supposedly curb your appetite, leading to weight loss. As one happy person said “Overall, I don’t eat as much and I don’t want as much so, I guess I would consider it a success for me but the doctor did tell us that there is a percentage that it would not have any effect on, and I heard that this will wear off so if you don’t have some sort of lifest
Ear stapling for weight loss isn’t likely to work — and it poses a serious risk of infection. Ear stapling is based loosely on the principles of auricular acupuncture, which involves stimulating certain points on the ear with fine needles. With auricular acupuncture, the needles are typically left in place for only a short period of time — sometimes up to one week. With ear stapling, small surgical staples are placed into the inner cartilage of each ear. The staples can be left in place for several weeks or even months. Proponents of ear stapling for weight loss claim that the staples stimulate a pressure point that controls appetite. Although some studies suggest that acupuncture can reduce appetite, ear stapling hasn’t been proved effective for weight loss. And the largely unregulated practice of ear stapling can be dangerous if done in unsanitary conditions or by an untrained practitioner. In fact, puncturing ear cartilage poses a risk of serious infection and permanent disfiguremen
• • With Mayo Clinic nutritionistKatherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D. read biography close window Biography of Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D. Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D. As a specialty editor for the nutrition and healthy eating guide, Katherine Zeratsky helps you sort through the facts and figures, the fads and the hype to learn more about nutrition and diet. A Marinette, Wis., native, Katherine is certified in dietetics by the state of Minnesota and the American Dietetic Association. She has been with Mayo Clinic since 1999. She is active in nutrition-related curriculum and course development in wellness nutrition at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and nutrition education related to weight management and practical applications of nutrition-related lifestyle changes. Other areas of interest include food and nutrition for all life stages, active lifestyles and the culinary arts. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, served a dietetic internship at the University of Iowa
