This article discusses alternative medical techniques used to lose weight. The techniques discussed are tai chi
and qigong, two forms of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that have been used for centuries to treat a wide
range of ailments. The initial stage of this research used Microsoft Copilot, an artificial intelligence chatbot,
to find publications on the use of these two tools of TCM to lose weight. The initial search uncovered several
internet articles that discussed cases where tai chi or qigong were used successfully to reduce weight. Stage two
of the search used PubMed, a medical database to find medical studies that examined the use of tai chi or qigong
to lose weight. The study found that tai chi and qigong can be used to effect weight loss.
Keywords: Tai Chi; Qigong; Traditional Chinese Medicine; TCM; Yoga; Artificial Intelligence; Weight Loss;
Obesity; Copilot
Obesity has increased in recent years, for a variety of reasons.
Diet and lack of exercise both contribute to it. Being overweight can
result in health problems, even if the individual is merely overweight
but not sufficiently overweight to be classified as obese. Those who
are obese or overweight are at greater risk of developing cardiovascular
diseases such as heart disease and stroke, as well as high blood
pressure and high cholesterol [1,2]. Studies have found that there is
a link between obesity and type 2 diabetes. High glucose levels can
lead to severe complications of all sorts, including heart disease, kidney
disease and even nerve damage [2,3]. The excessive cholesterol
in the bile can lead to the formation of gall stones [1]. The extra
weight can also have an adverse effect on hip and knee joints and can
be a contributing factor to osteoarthritis [3]. Being overweight can
also increase the risk of certain cancers due to hormonal imbalances
and inflammation [3,4]. It can also lead to respiratory problems such
as asthma and sleep apnea by restricting the airways and making
breathing more difficult [1].
Being overweight can lead to or exacerbate depression and anxiety.
There is also a social stigma that is associated with being overweight.
All of these factors have a negative effect on mental well-being
[1,2]. The usual ways to achieve weight loss include diet, exercise and
perhaps medication. In this article we will explore other ways to lose
weight, methods that do not include medication or changes in diet,
although a change in diet is often recommended when one wants to
achieve weight loss. Tai chi and qigong are two kinds of light, low (or
no) impact exercises that have been used for centuries to treat and
even cure a wide range of ailments by strengthening the body’s natural
immune system. They have been popular remedies in Asia for
centuries, and their use has been used increasingly in recent decades
in the West [5-40]. They are considered part of what may be called
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
The first step in the current study is to utilize artificial intelligence
(AI) to see what information is available on the internet. AI does not
take the place of rigorous medical research, but it can be a good way
to learn what is easily retrievable on the internet. AI is being used
increasingly in medical research and practice, and its use is expected
to increase dramatically in the future [41-70]. However, there are at
least two caveats that must be mentioned if one wants to use AI in
any kind of research. Prior studies have found that the information
retrieved using AI can be inaccurate [71-75] or even biased [76-84].
Thus, caution must be used, and it is necessary to check the accuracy
of any information retrieved. If one requires more detailed or technical
information, the next step would be to access one or more medical
databases. We will use Microsoft Copilot [85] in the present study
because, as of this writing, it is one of the better chatbots. It is easy
to use, the information it provides is often good, at least as a starting
point, and there is a free version, which often provides sufficient information
to satisfy the needs of most scholars who want to find basic
information on the targeted topic. The first step is to give it a command
or instruction or ask it a question on the topic to be researched.
It must be formulated in a way that will enable it to retrieve the needed
information without also providing information that is not relevant
to the study. If the information provided on the initial inquiry
is unsatisfactory, all that need be done is to fine-tune the request or
ask a different question. The first instruction might go something like
this if the goal is to find articles and/or studies on the use of tai chi or
qigong to lose weight.
Yes, both tai chi and qigong have been found to be effective in promoting
weight loss. Here are summaries of some relevant studies:
1) Tai Chi and Weight Loss:
a) A study tracked a group of adults practicing tai chi five times
a week for 45 minutes each session over 12 weeks. The participants
lost a little over a pound without making any additional
lifestyle changes [86].
b) Another study compared tai chi with low-impact exercise
and a no-exercise group. The results showed that tai chi was as
effective as low-impact exercise in reducing weight and waist circumference
[87].
2) Qigong and Weight Loss:
a) While specific studies on qigong and weight loss are less
common, qigong shares many similarities with tai chi in terms
of low-impact, mindful movement. These practices can help increase
caloric expenditure and improve overall metabolism [88].
Both tai chi and qigong are particularly beneficial for individuals
who may find high-impact exercises challenging due to health
conditions or mobility issues. They also offer additional health
benefits such as stress reduction, improved cardiovascular health,
and better overall well-being [88-90].
Copilot provided several good examples of studies that found either
tai chi or qigong to be effective in weight loss. Readers who are
interested in learning more can refer to the publications cited.
Sauer [86] listed 11 ways that tai chi can benefit health. They are: 1) Stress reduction: She cited a study [91] that compared the
effectiveness of tai chi and traditional exercise to stress reduction.
That study concluded that tai chi may be superior to other forms
of exercise for reducing stress and anxiety. 2) Improved mood: She cited a study [92] that found that
qigong and tai chi reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety,
much like mindfulness meditation. 3) Better sleep: She cited two studies. One study [93] of young
adults found that those who practiced tai chi twice a week for 10
weeks had a better quality of sleep and experienced less anxiety
than those in the control group. The other study [94] found that
practicing tai chi twice a week for two months resulted in a better
quality of sleep for adults who had cognitive impairment. 4) Weight loss: She cited a study [95] that found that adults
who practiced tai chi for 45 minutes, five times a week for 12
weeks lost a little over one pound, which is not much, but it is
something. 5) Improved cognition in older adults: She cited a study [96]
that found that tai chi improved cognition and plasma BDNF in
older adults with mild cognitive impairment. 6) Reduced risk of falling in older adults: She cited two
studies that reached this conclusion [97-98]. 7) Improved fibromyalgia symptoms: She cited a 2018 study
that had this finding [99]. 8) Improved COPD symptoms: She cited a 2014 study [100]
that found this result. 9) Improved balance and strength for people suffering
from Parkinson’s disease: She cited a study [101] of 195 patients
who decreased the number of falls by practicing tai chi regularly.
10) Coronary heart disease. 11) Reduced arthritis pain: She cited several studies where tai
chi was found to reduce arthritis pain [102-104].
A search of one or more medical databases such as PubMed [105]
would find additional studies on the beneficial weight loss effects of
tai chi or qigong. A search using tai chi and weight loss as key words
found four relevant studies [106-109]. A search for qigong and weight
loss found an additional relevant study [110].
Several studies have found that both tai chi and qigong can be
used to achieve weight loss. They are good alternatives to some traditional
Western methods that use medications or surgery to achieve
the same goal.
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ISSN: 2574 -1241
Abstract
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