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.

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.