Objective: To observe the clinical therapeutic effect of abdominal acupuncture therapy for simple obesity. Methods: Forty-one female simple obesity patients were randomized into sham-acupuncture group (n=15) and acupuncture group (n=26)

and other 15 normal women were made up of normal control group. Abdominal points used were 8 points 2 cun

3 cun and 4 cun (upper

lower

left

right

left-upper

left-lower

right-upper and right-lower sites) to the umbilicus respectively

combined with Zusanli (ST 36) and Sanyinjiao (SP 9). The treatment was conducted once every other day

with 20 times being a therapeutic course. Simultaneously

the patients were asked to restrict their diet. For patients of sham-acupuncture group

the acupuncture needles (specially-made retractable needle with dull tip) were just touch the skin and the manipulations were the same to those for acupuncture group. Body mass index (BMI) and the ratio of waist circumstance and body height (WC/BH) were detected before and after the treatment. Results: Before treatment

both BMI and WC/BH of sham-acupuncture and acupuncture groups were significantly higher than those of normal control group. After one course of treatment

no significant changes were found in these two indexes in patients of sham-acupuncture group (P>0.05); while compared with sham-acupuncture group

both BMI and WC/BH decreased significantly (P<0.01)

suggesting that acupuncture could effectively reduce the obesity patient's body weight and WC/BH. Conclusion: Abdominal acupuncture therapy is an effective remedy for reducing simple obesity patient's body weight.