Objective To evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture therapy in decreasing visceral fat thickness(VFT)in patients with simple central obesity.Methods Sixty patients with simple central obesity(syndrome of stomach and intestinal excessive heat)were randomly divided into control and acupuncture groups.Patients of the control group were treated with diet control and physical exercise procedure(basic treatment)for 6months

and those of the acupuncture group treated with basic treatment combined with acupuncture stimulation of main acupoints Shuifen(CV 9)

Yinjiao(CV 7)

and bilateral Tianshu(ST 25)

Huaroumen(ST 24)and bilateral Wailing(ST 26)

etc.

in combination with electroacupuncture(EA

50-100 Hz

1-5mA)of bilateral ST 25

CV 9and CV 7for 30 min

once every other day for 3months.The VFT(1cm above the umbilicus)was detected by using an ultrasonic diagnosis instrument

and the body mass index(BMI

body weight/height 2)

and waist circumfe-rence(WC)were measured before treatment

3and 6months after the treatment

respectively.Results Following 3and 6months' treatment

the VFT

BMI and WC of both groups were significantly decreased(P<0.01)

and the effects of the acupuncture group were significantly superior to those of the control group in lowering VFT [(51.5±6.5)mm vs(48.3±4.7)mm)]and WC [(88.2±3.6)cm vs(85.9±4.3)cm]6months' after the treatment(P<0.05).There was no significant difference between the control and acupuncture groups in BMI fowllowing 6months' treatment[(31.0±4.3)vs(30.1±3.2)

P>0.05].Conclusion Acupuncture intervention combined with diet control and physical exercise can effectively decrease VFT and WC in simple central obesity patients.VFT is a sensitive and better parameter for evaluating the effect of obesity treatment.