[ acupoint thread embedding therapy for perimenopausal obesity: a randomized controlled trial].

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of acupoint thread embedding therapy on perimenopausal obesity (PMO).

Methods: Ninety-six patients of PMO were randomly divided into an observation group (48 cases) and a control group (48 cases). The control group received health education and lifestyle intervention. On the basis of the treatment in the control group, the observation group was treated with acupoint thread embedding at the main acupoints of Shangwan (CV 13), Zhongwan (CV 12), Xiawan (CV 10), Yinlingquan (SP 9) and Fenglong (ST 40), etc. as well as the supplementary acupoints in accordance with the syndrome differentiation, once every 2 weeks for 8 weeks (4 times in total). The indexes of obesity (body mass index [BMI], waist circumference, hip circumference and body mass), modified Kupperman score, insomnia severity index (ISI) score, self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) score, and self-rating depression scale (SDS) score of the two groups were observed before and after treatment, and the safety was evaluated.

Results: After treatment, BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference and body mass in the two groups were lower than before treatment (<0.05), and those in the observation group were lower than the control group (<0.05). After treatment, Kupperman, ISI and SAS scores in the observation group were lower than before treatment (<0.05), and ISI score in the control group was lower than before treatment (<0.05). Kupperman, ISI and SAS scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (<0.05). There was no significant difference in SDS between the two groups or within groups (>0.05). No serious adverse reactions occurred during the experiment.

Conclusion: acupoint thread embedding therapy can reduce the degree of obesity in PMO patients, and improve patients' the perimenopausal symptoms, insomnia and anxiety, with good safety.