Objective To explore the effect of Shu-mu acupoint catgut embedding (ACE) on appetite in abdominal obesity (AO) patients. Methods This is a secondary analysis of a multicenter, double-blind, randomized controlled trial. Which was conducted in China between July 2018 and June 2022. Eighty AO participants who received Shu-mu ACE intervention were divided into moderate appetite (MA) and strong appetite (SA) subgroups, according to the appetite at baseline. While 79 AO participants who received NACE intervention were also divided into MA and SA subgroups. All participants were given a 12-week actual intervention period and a 4-week follow-up. Appetite was assessed at baseline and after 6, 12 and 16 weeks. Results 71 participants who received Shu-mu ACE and 74 participants who received NACE were included in the final analysis. After the Shu-mu ACE, at 16 weeks, the appetite of the SA subgroup decreased to the same level as the MA subgroup (p > 0.05). All 36 AO participants’ appetite had decreased in the SA subgroup. While in the MA subgroup, 22 AO participants had a decrease in appetite, 7 increased, 4 had no change, and 2 had appetite data missing. During the NACE intervention and follow-up, the appetite of the SA subgroup was always higher than the MA subgroup (p < 0.01). In the SA subgroup, 32 decreased, 4 increased, 5 had no change, and 2 appetite data missing. While in the MA subgroup, 14 decreased, 7 increased, and 10 had no change. Conclusions Catgut embedding at Shu-mu acupoint could regulate the appetite of AO to the normal level, rather than dramatically inhibit the appetite. Trial registration This study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (registration number: ChiCTR1800016947). 4 July 2018; https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=28782

BACKGROUND Obesity is an increasing worldwide problem. Previous studies suggested that acupoint catgut embedding (ACE) may be an effective obesity treatment. However, the evidence for the efficacy of ACE in abdominal obesity (AO) remains inadequate due to the paucity of high-quality studies. OBJECTIVE This study aims to investigate the difference in the effectiveness of catgut embedding at acupoints and catgut embedding at non-acupoints in AO patients. METHODS This is a multicenter, double-blind, 16-week randomized controlled trial (RCT). A total of 92 eligible AO participants will be randomly divided into two groups (1:1 allocation ratio). The ACE group will receive catgut embedding at acupoints and the control group will receive catgut embedding at non-acupoints. The intervention will be performed every two weeks for a total of 6 sessions. Follow-up will be performed every two weeks for a total of 2 visits. The primary outcome is waist circumference (WC). Secondary outcomes include body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI), hip circumference (HC), and visual analog scale (VAS) of appetite. RESULTS This trial protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board in June 2018. The start of recruitment began in August 2019 and is expected to end in September 2023. Upon completion of the trial, we will evaluate the effect of catgut embedding in acupoints or non-acupoints on obesity indicators in patients with AO. For treatment outcomes, an intention-to-treat analysis will be performed. CONCLUSIONS Although studies have been conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of ACE in the treatment of obesity. However, the evidence for the efficacy of ACE in AO remains insufficient due to the quality of the studies. This rigorous normative randomized controlled trial will verify the effect of catgut embedding in acupoints or non-acupoints for AO. The findings will provide credible evidence as to whether ACE is an effective and durable treatment for AO. CLINICALTRIAL Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR1800016947; http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=28782

Background: Abdominal obesity (AO) is not only a health issue, but also a serious impact on women's work and life. The article of acupoint catgut embedding (ACE) on AO has already been accepted to be published and showed significant effect. However, whether ACE is effective for abdominally obese female with strong appetite is still unclear. Methods: This is a mixed analysis of a multicenter, double-blind, randomized controlled trial.Which was conducted in China between July 2018 and March 2020 (n = 101), while with the supplementary samples (n = 22) between April 2020 and June 2022. According to the appetite and intervention methods, 123 abdominally obese female were divided into ACE group with strong appetite (n = 27) and moderate appetite (n = 31), control (non-acupoint catgut embedding) group with strong appetite (n = 37) and moderate appetite (n = 28). Four subgroups were given a 12-week actual intervention period and a 4-week follow-up. Waist circumference (WC), appetite, body weight and BMI were applied and assessed at baseline and after 6, 12 and 16 weeks. Results: In this study, the mean onset age of abdominal obesity in females was 25.27 (8.19) years old. The longer duration of AO, the lower the appetite in females (p<0.05). At 12 and 16 weeks, ACE group with strong appetite showed significant decrease in WC and appetite than control group with strong appetite (p<0.01). However, ACE group with moderate appetite showed no significant decrease than control group with moderate appetite in WC, appetite, body weight and BMI (p>0.05). At 12 and 16 weeks, there was no significant difference in appetite between the ACE groups (strong and moderate appetite)(p>0.05), while there was still a difference between the control groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: Younger abdominally obese female had a stronger appetite. ACE own the remarkable therapeutic effects for younger abdominally obese female and showed the perfect effect on appetite-reduction.

Background Obesity is an increasing problem worldwide. The effective treatments for obesity mainly include diet, physical activity, behavioral intervention, pharmacotherapy, and bariatric surgery, which all have certain limitations. As a specific type of acupuncture therapy, acupoint catgut embedding (ACE) has gained substantial attention in the management of obesity in recent years. Previous studies suggested that ACE may be an effective obesity treatment. However, the evidence for the efficacy of ACE in abdominal obesity (AO) remains inadequate due to the paucity of high-quality studies. Objective This study aims to investigate the difference in the effectiveness of catgut embedding at acupoints and catgut embedding at nonacupoints in patients with AO and to further validate the efficacy and safety of ACE for AO. Methods This is a multicenter, double-blind, 16-week randomized controlled trial. A total of 92 eligible participants with AO will be randomly divided into 2 groups (1:1 allocation ratio). The ACE group will receive catgut embedding at acupoints and the control group will receive catgut embedding at nonacupoints. The intervention will be performed every 2 weeks for a total of 6 sessions. Follow-up will be performed every 2 weeks for a total of 2 visits. The primary outcome is waist circumference. Secondary outcomes include body weight, BMI, hip circumference, and the visual analog scale of appetite. Upon the completion of the trial, we will evaluate the effect of catgut embedding at acupoints or nonacupoints on obesity indicators in patients with AO. For treatment outcomes, an intention-to-treat analysis will be performed. Results The start of recruitment began in August 2019 and is expected to end in September 2023. Conclusions Although studies have been conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of ACE in the treatment of obesity, the evidence for the efficacy of ACE in AO remains insufficient due to the quality of the studies. This rigorous normative randomized controlled trial will verify the effect of catgut embedding at acupoints or nonacupoints in patients with AO. The findings will provide credible evidence as to whether ACE is an effective and safe treatment for AO. Trial Registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1800016947; https://tinyurl.com/2p82257p International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/46863