Suture Length Effects in Acupoint Implantation for Abdominal Obesity

Obesity is a metabolic disorder and has become a global health issue with a steadily increasing prevalence. According to the Health Promotion Administration's statistical report, the overweight and obesity rate among adults in Taiwan was 50.3% between 2017 and 2020. Based on the Ministry of Health and Welfare's criteria, a BMI ≥27 kg/m² is classified as obese. Studies have shown that acupuncture can effectively reduce body weight with low cost and minimal side effects. Acupoint catgut embedding is a treatment method that combines traditional meridian acupuncture with modern medical materials by implanting surgical sutures into acupoints to provide continuous stimulation. A 2022 systematic review found that catgut embedding is more effective than traditional acupuncture, requires fewer treatment sessions, and has a high safety profile. However, no studies have yet investigated whether different lengths of implanted surgical sutures affect treatment outcomes. This study is a single-center, double-blind, randomized controlled trial aimed at identifying the optimal suture length for acupoint catgut embedding, in order to enhance its efficiency and therapeutic effect.

NCT Number	NCT07125716
Lead Sponsor	Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
Conditions	Abdominal Obesity, Obesity
Enrollment	78 participants
Start Date	2025-08-01
Primary Completion	2026-06-30 (estimated)
Study Completion	2026-07-31 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2025-08-15