Evaluation of the effectiveness of acupoint catgut embedding for obesity

Abstract

Background: Obesity is defined as a condition in which excessive fat accumulates in subcutaneous adipose tissue and other tissues due to metabolic disorders, leading to an increase in body weight. As of 2006, 31.6% of the Mongolian population aged 15–64 years were overweight or obese, of whom 21.8% were overweight and 9.8% were obese. By 2019, this proportion had increased to 49.4% being overweight or obese, including 30.9% overweight and 18.5% obese. These figures indicate that the Mongolian population has become affected by the obesity epidemic. Therefore, this study was conducted with the aim of scientifically validating the effectiveness of acupoint catgut embedding for obesity through a clinical experimental research approach. Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of acupoint catgut embedding in patients with obesity. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted as a clinical experimental research using a descriptive study design at the Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences (MNUMS) International School of Mongolian Medicine, the Central Hospital of Mongolian Medicine and the Second Traditional Chinese and Mongolian Hospital of Chifeng city, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, PRC, from July 2025 to January 2026. A total of 76 adult participants were enrolled based on the following inclusion criteria: If the participant is female, she must have regular menstrual cycles, confirmed diagnosis of obesity (BMI ≥25 kg/m², or waist circumference >94 cm for men and >80 cm for women, or waist-to-hip ratio >0.95 for men and >0.85 for women), and willingness to participate voluntarily. Participants received catgut embedding at acupoints Zhongwan (CV12), Xiawan (CV10), Guanyuan (CV4), Qihai (CV6), Daimai (GB26), Daheng (SP15), Tianshu (ST25) and Huaroumen (ST24) once every 14 days for a total of two sessions. The effectiveness of the intervention was assessed by comparing body weight, BMI, body fat percentage, waist and hip circumference, selected metabolic parameters (GLU, HDL, LDL, CHOL, TG), and depression scores (Beck Depression Inventory) before treatment and 30 days after the intervention. Results: After acupoint catgut embedding, participants showed statistically significant reductions in body weight, BMI, body fat percentage, waist circumference, and hip circumference (p=0.0001). HDL increased from 1.62 ± 14.77 ммоль/л to 1.80 ± 0.64 ммоль/л and LDL increased from 2.21 ± 0.55 ммоль/л to 2.57 ± 0.84 ммоль/л, both showing statistically significant increases (p=0.0001). Total cholesterol increased slightly from 4.36 ± 0.88 ммоль/л to 4.43 ± 0.8 ммоль/л, but this change was not statistically significant (p=0.24). Triglycerides decreased from 1.45 ± 0.68 ммоль/л to 1.30 ± 0.62 ммоль/л, representing a statistically significant improvement (p=0.005). Fasting glucose increased from 4.17 ± 0.66 ммоль/л to 4.66 ± 0.62 ммоль/л (p=0.0001). Depression assessment showed that before the study, 17 participants (22.4%) had no depression, 19 (25.0%) had mild depression, 12 (15.8%) had moderate depression, and 28 (36.8%) had severe depression. After treatment, 36 participants (47.4%) had no depression, 20 (26.3%) had mild depression, 8 (10.5%) had moderate depression, and 12 (15.8%) had severe depression. Conclusions: 1. Acupoint catgut embedding for obesity reduces body weight, BMI, body fat percentage, waist circumference and hip circumference. 2. Acupoint catgut embedding increases HDL-C, LDL-C and fasting glucose levels and decreases triglyceride levels. 3. Acupoint catgut embedding reduces the severity of depression..