Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of catgut embedding on Water-Acupoints（ acupoints to regulate water metabolism） combined with diet and exercise therapy for simple obesity. Methods Totally 96 cases of simple obesity were randomized into the treatment group and control group

with 72 and 24 in each. The control group was given diet and exercise therapy. The treatment group was added with catgut embedding on Water-Acupoints. The acupoints in the 1st group were Guilai（ ST29）

Shuidao（ ST28）

Daju（ ST27） and Wailing（ ST26）. The acupoints in the 2nd group were Dahe（ KI12）

Qixue（ KI13）

Siman（ KI14） and Zhongzhu（ KI15）. The acupoints in the 3rd group were Dachangshu（ BL25）

Xiaochangshu（ BL27）

Pangguangshu（ BL28） and Zhishi（ BL52）. The acupoints in the 4th group were Yaoshu（ GV2）

Mingmen（ GV4）

Zhibian（ BL54） and Weicang（ BL50）. The catgut embedding was conducted once weekly and each time the acupoints in one group were used. The therapeutic effect was observed after 4-week treatment. The changes of body weight

body mass index（ BMI）

waist circumference（ WC）

hip circumference（ HC） and waist-hip ratio（ WHR） in both groups were observed before and after treatment. Results The total effective rate of the treatment group and control group was 79. 41% and 68. 18% respectively

with a significant difference between groups（ P < 0. 05）. The body weight

BMI

WC

HC and WHR were significantly decreased in the treatment group（ P < 0. 05）. The body weight

BMI

WC and WHR in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group（ P < 0. 05）. Conclusion Catgut embedding on Water-Acupoints is effective for simple obesity as combined with diet and exercise therapy and the combo therapy has a synergistic effect.