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Clinical Trial
. 2024 Nov 29:17:4573-4583.
doi: 10.2147/DMSO.S487877. eCollection 2024.

Effect of Acupoint Catgut Embedding on Subjective Appetite in Overweight and Obese Adults with Strong and Moderate Appetite: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial

Xin Tang #  1   2 , Gaoyangzi Huang #  1   2 , Qifu Li  1   2 , Siwen Zhao  1   2 , Ruqin Yang  1   2 , Hongyang Wang  1   2 , Yuanzheng Deng  1   2 , Zili Liu  2 , Taipin Guo  1   2 , Fanrong Liang  3
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Effect of Acupoint Catgut Embedding on Subjective Appetite in Overweight and Obese Adults with Strong and Moderate Appetite: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial

Xin Tang et al. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. .

Abstract

Background: Appetite plays a crucial role in obesity and weight loss outcomes. while conventional therapies reduce appetite, They often have limitations. Acupoint Catgut Embedding (ACE) is widely used for weight loss, but its impact on subjective appetite, especially across different appetite status, remains underexplored.

Objective: To evaluate the differential impact of ACE on the subjective appetite of overweight and obese adults with strong and moderate appetites.

Methods: This secondary analysis used data from a multicenter, double-blind, parallel randomized clinical trial of the ACE intervention. A total of 122 overweight and obese patients aged 18-60 were randomly assigned to the ACE and Non-acupoint Catgut Embedding (NACE) groups, each receiving six sessions over 12 weeks and a 4-week follow-up. Appetite was measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and a generalized linear mixed-effects model assessed changes in appetite scores. Bonferroni corrections were applied for multiple comparisons (P < 0.05).

Results: Participants with strong appetite in the ACE group showed a significant reduction in appetite VAS score from 7.78 (0.66) at baseline to 5.00 (0.72) at 16 weeks (P < 0.05), compared to a reduction from 7.97 (0.93) to 6.54 (1.17) in the NACE group. The adjusted relative rate ratio between the two groups was 0.411 (95% CI, 0.210 to 0.534; P < 0.05). In participants with moderate appetite, no significant difference was observed between the two groups (P > 0.05). The significant baseline difference in appetite scores between participants with strong and moderate appetite (P < 0.05) became non-significant by week 16 (P > 0.05).

Conclusion: This study reveals the stratified effect of ACE on appetite, with greater reduction in those with strong appetite and no significant change in those with moderate appetite. This suggests ACE reduces appetite effectively without excessive suppression, supporting its potential as a sustainable obesity management strategy.

Keywords: acupoint catgut embedding; appetite; obesity; overweight; randomized controlled trial.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The location of acupoints.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The scale of VAS of appetite.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Study flow diagram.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Intervention effects on appetite VAS score at different time points stratified by appetite VAS score at baseline. (A) Strong appetite: Appetite VAS scores decreased from baseline to 16 weeks in both groups, with a sharper decline in the ACE group (red line) compared with the NACE group (blue line). (B) Moderate appetite: Appetite VAS scores also decreased, though less steeply compared with strong appetite. The ACE group again showed a greater reduction compared with the NACE group.
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