ArticleFrontiers in medicine2026
Cumulative weight reduction across repeated acupoint catgut embedding sessions in obese women: a retrospective cohort study.
Article in Frontiers in medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
Introduction: Acupoint catgut embedding (ACE), a minimally invasive acupuncture-derived technique, is gaining popularity in weight management, yet high-quality evidence focusing specifically on obese individuals remains sparse. This retrospective cohort study was designed to assess whether ACE is associated with lower body mass index (BMI) in obese women and whether this association accumulates across repeated sessions. Methods: We included obese women (BMI ≥ 28 kg/m Results: Ninety-eight participants in the ACE group and 33 participants in the control group were analysed. The two groups were similar at baseline in age, height, weight, BMI, and waist circumference. By the third, fourth, and fifth visits, the ACE group showed significantly lower BMI than the control group ( Conclusion: Some evidence from this study suggests that ACE may be associated with weight loss in obese women, with differences becoming detectable after two sessions and appearing to strengthen with additional treatments. No major adverse events were identified during the observed treatment period, supporting ACE as a possible adjunctive option for obesity care.
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