Objective To analyze studies published in journals included in PubMed in terms of randomized controlled trials(RCTs)examining the therapeutic effect of acupuncture for simple obesity

so as to provide a reference for subsequent RCTrelated designs and results.Methods RCT literature about acupuncture treatment of simple obesity from the PubMed database and from 2000 to 2016 was retrieved by using keywords of"obesity""fat""acupuncture""joint application of acupuncture and herbal medicine"or "auricular point""electroacupuncture"

"acupoint application"

or "cupping"

followed by screening

extraction and evaluation of the design methodology and outcomes using Consolidated Standards for Reporting of Trials(CONSORT)and Standards for Reporting Interventions in Controlled Trials of Acupuncture(STRICTA).Results Fourteen articles from six countries in Asia examining the therapeutic effect of acupuncture in the treatment of simple obesity mainly by using acupoints of the Stomach Meridian were included.Generally

acupuncture was found to be more effective than sham acupuncture.However

PubMed did not include any RCTs comparing acupuncture with western medicine for weight loss and many problems(as details of needling manipulation

etc.)remained in the the research reports available in the database.Conclusion All the existing RCTs generally affirm the positive efficacy of acupuncture for simple obesity

but high-quality RCTs

particularly those comparing acupuncture with western medicines for weight loss are lacking.