- With Mayo Clinic nutritionist
Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.
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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 Hospitals and Clinics, and worked as a registered dietitian and health risk counselor at ThedaCare of Appleton, Wis., before joining the Mayo Clinic staff.
Weight-loss basics (6)
- Metabolism: What's the best way to boost it?
- Body fat: What happens to lost fat?
- Slow metabolism: Is it to blame for weight gain?
- see all in Weight-loss basics
Diet plans (9)
- The Cookie Diet: Can it help you lose weight?
- The Special K diet: Helpful for weight loss?
- Coffee calories: Sabotaging your weight-loss goal?
- see all in Diet plans
Mayo Clinic diet (1)
- Weight loss: Better to cut calories or exercise more?
Diet and exercise (4)
- Weight loss: Better to cut calories or exercise more?
- Can I use yoga for weight loss?
- Negative calorie foods: Diet gimmick or weight-loss aid?
- see all in Diet and exercise
Diet pills, supplements and surgery (14)
- Phentermine for weight loss: Can it help?
- Hoodia: Does this dietary supplement help weight loss?
- Water retention: Are there any natural diuretics?
- see all in Diet pills, supplements and surgery
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Question
Ear stapling for weight loss: Does it work?
I'm considering having my ears stapled to help me lose weight. Does this work?
Answer
from Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.
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 disfigurement.
If you're overweight, don't depend on ear stapling for weight loss. Instead, discuss proven weight-loss strategies with your doctor.
Next questionCoconut oil and weight loss: Does it work?
- Burkhead SK, et al. Auriculotherapy complications: Ear stapling gone bad. Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. 2007;137:215.
- Yeh C, et al. Effects of ear points' pressing on parameters related to obesity in non-obese healthy and obese volunteers. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2008;14:309.
- Cabioglu MT, et al. Serum IgG, IgA, IgM, and IgE levels after electroacupuncture and diet therapy in obese women. American Journal of Chinese Medicine. 2007;35:955.
- Richards D, et al. Stimulation of auricular acupuncture points in weight loss. Australian Family Physician. 1998;27:S73.
- Winter LK, et al. Ear stapling: A risky and unproven procedure for appetite suppression and weight loss. Ear Nose Throat Journal. 2010;89:E20.
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