[Acupuncture treatment of abdominal obesity patients by "belt vessel (Daimai) regulating method"]

To observe the clinical effect of acupuncture intervention on abdominal obesity by stimulation of "Belt Vessel (Daimai) Regulation Acupoint Recipe".

A total of 35 abdominal obesity outpatients were recuited in the present study. The "Belt Vessel (Daimai) Regulation Acupoint Recipe" was composed of Daimai (GB 26), Tianshu (ST25), Daheng (SP 15), Zhongwan (CV 12), Liangmen (ST 21), Shuidao (ST 28), Zusanli (ST 36), Shangjuxu (ST 37), Fenglong (ST 40) and Zulinqi (GB 41, both sides except CV 12). In addition, electroacupuncture was also applied to bilateral GB 26 and ST 25. The treatment was conducted once every other day, 8 weeks altogether. The body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and body fat rate [ = 1.2 x BMI + 0.23 x age-5.4-10.8 x sex (male = 1, female = 0)] were measured or calculated. The thickness of abdominal adipose layer (i.e.; S1 = distance from the interface of the skin and subcutaneous fat to the linea alba abdominis at the midpoint between the xiphoid-process and the umbilicus; S2 = distance from the interface of the skin and subcutaneous fat to the anterior bounder of the external oblique muscle of abdomen on the right side closely to the umbilicus center) and visceral fat layer thickness (V 1 = distance from the midpoint of the linea alba abdominis to the anterior bounder of the vertebra body; V 2 = distance from the peritoneum to the right bounder of the vertebra body at the umbilicus level) were measured for calculating ultrasound viscerofatty index [UVI = (V 1 + V2)/(S 1 + S 2)] by using a color Doppler ultrasonography.

After 8 weeks' treatment, the body weight, BMI, waist and hips circumferences, WHtR and percentage of body fat were declined significantly (P < 0.05, P < 0.001). The WHR was decreased compared to that of pre-treatment, but without statistical significance (P > 0.05). The thickness of abdominal subcutaneous adipose and visceral adipose layers and UVI were decreased significantly following the treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.001). The reduction of visceral adipose layer was superior to that of the abdominal subcutaneous one (P < 0.001).

Acupuncture intervention has a significant effect on reducing abdominal obesity in abdominal obesity patients.