Effect of Acupoint Catgut Embedding for Abdominally Obese Female with Strong Appetite: Mixed Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial

Figures & data

Figure 1 Flowchart of the screening, enrollment, randomization, and follow-up.

Figure 2 Location of the points. Acupoints of BL20(Pishu), BL21(Weishu), and BL25(Dachangshu) located in back waist. CV12(Zhongwan), ST25(Tianshu) and LR13(Zhangmen) located in abdomen. The non-acupoints are next to the acupoints (in red).

Table 1 Baseline Characteristics of 123 Participants Included in the ITT Analysis

Baseline Characteristics	Strong Appetite (n=64)		Moderate Appetite (n=59)
	ACE (n=27)	Control (n=37)	ACE (n=31)	Control (n=28)
Age, y	33.15 (7.53)	34.95 (9.29)	37.90 (10.96)	36.71 (8.93)
	34.19 (8.57)		37.34 (9.97)
Duration, y	8.00 (9.00)	10.00 (6.00)	12.00 (9.00)	9.00 (6.75)
	9.00 (6.75)		10.00 (12.00)
Onset Age, y	23.53 (6.62)	25.77 (7.03)	25.45 (9.34)	26.09 (9.70)
	24.82 (6.89)		25.75 (9.43)
Appetite score	7.74 (0.66)	7.97 (0.89)	5.52 (0.83)	5.39 (0.83)
	7.85 (0.79)		5.47 (0.82)

Notes: Age, onset age and appetite score were presented as mean (SD). Duration were presented as median (IQR). For age and onset age, Independent-Sample t-test were used between “Strong Appetite” and “Moderate Appetite”. For duration, Mann–Whitney test were used between “Strong Appetite” and “Moderate Appetite”. Pearson Chi-Square test was used to determine the correlations between appetite score and the duration.

Figure 3 Waist circumference and appetite during the entire study.

Notes: (A) WC data were presented as median (IQR) in strong appetite groups, median in moderate appetite groups. Mann–Whitney test were used between every two groups. **p < 0.01. (B) Appetite data were presented as mean (SD) in strong appetite groups, mean in moderate appetite groups. Independent-Sample t-test were used between every two groups. **p < 0.01.

Table 2 Body Weight and BMI During the Entire Study

Secondary Outcomes	ACE (n=58)		Control (n=65)
	Strong Appetite (n=27)	Moderate Appetite (n=31)	Strong Appetite (n=37)	Moderate Appetite (n=28)
Body Weight, kg
Baseline	73.71 (5.79)	74.47 (10.36)	75.83 (9.38)	73.85 (10.25)
Treatment, wk
1–6	72.06 (5.75)	73.81 (9.84)	75.01 (9.30)	73.07 (10.30)
7–12	70.63 (6.21)	72.56 (10.02)	74.58 (9.47)	72.42 (10.58)
Follow up, 13–16 wk	69.60 (7.32) (n = 27)	70.63 (9.65) (n = 30)	74.02 (9.96) (n = 35)	71.30 (11.11) (n = 28)
BMI, kg/m^2
Baseline	28.79 (2.01)	29.00 (3.67)	29.67 (4.35)	28.60 (3.18)
Treatment, wk
1–6	28.14 (2.05)	28.74 (3.40)	29.35 (4.34)	28.31 (3.25)
7–12	27.59 (2.29)	28.24 (3.41)	29.18 (4.38)	28.03 (3.26)
Follow up, 13–16 wk	27.15 (2.35) (n = 27)	27.51 (3.27) (n = 30)	28.97 (4.60) (n = 35)	27.61 (3.55) (n = 28)

Notes: Data were presented as mean (SD). Independent-Sample t-test were used between every two groups.