Aromatherapy has been utilized for a variety of effects on skin care, fitness, muscle relaxation, such as for the purpose, are actively in progress In addition, studies have been made for a quantitative scale.
This research studied various clinical studies on the effect of losing weight through aromatherapy, which were published from 1999 to Dec. 2014 and meta-analysis was carried out to integrate the result of 18 studies with aroma oil, which used as an experimental treatment. This research compares and analyzes the effect by treatment variables. It presents the objective data of weight losses with aroma, suggests a useful plan that can be used in skin care industry and provides basic data on aromatheraphy studies.
Research procedures was conducted in five steps such as subject setting, data collection and the selection of an object of study, feature analysis, meta statistical analysis and presentation of result. Integrated estimation was calculated by fixed?effects model. Used samples and the standard deviation values were found by MS Excel Effect Size Computation Program.
This research verifies the effect of weight losses through aromatherapy, by measuring an effect size on 7 treatment variables ? weight, BMI, waist circumference, body fact percentage, WHR and hip circumference.
First, variables of weight, BMI, waist circumference, body fat percentage and WHR are shown to be effective. And the amount of body fat and hip circumference showed aslight effect size.
Second, the variable with the highest effect size was body fat percentage, waist circumference, weight, BMI, WHR, hip circumference and the amount of body fat, in the order named.
Third, the positive effects on decrease in weight and body fat percentage in an experimental group with aromatherapy in parallel than an experimental group with a single treatment(exercise).
Thus, this research suggests aromatherapy is effective in losing weight. And exercising in parallel with aromatherapy can be seen the greater effect rather than exercising only, when losing weight. Aromatherapy was verified it can be used to lose weight as a complementary therapy that utilized in the skin care industry.