ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the therapeutic effect of acupuncture for slimming.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty cases of simple obesity were randomly divided into an acupuncture group and a medication group, 40 cases in each group. The acupuncture group were treated with body acupuncture, electroacupuncture and auricular acupoint taping and pressing, with Tianshu (ST 25), Guanyuan (CV 4), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) etc. selected for body acupuncture, and auricular acupoints Shenmen, Neifenmi (endocrine), Pi (spleen) etc. selected for ear acupoint taping and pressing. And the medication group were treated with oral administration of Sibutramine. Body weight, body mass index, waist and hip circumferences and waist-hip ratio were determined before and after treatment to evaluate therapeutic effect of slimming.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate of 87.5% in the acupuncture group was similar to 82.5% in the medication group (P > 0.05). After treatment, body weight, body mass index, waist and hip circumferences and waist-hip ratio significantly decreased in the two groups, but the improvement of waist circumferences and waist-hip ratio in the acupuncture group was better than that in the medication group (P < 0. 05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture has a definite therapeutic effect in slimming and it can effectively improve body weight, body mass index, waist and hip circumferences and waist-hip ratio in the patient of simple obesity.</p>
