Objective To compare the therapeutic effect on simple obesity of gastrointestinal heat type between electroacupuncture （EA） and conventional acupuncture （CA）. Methods Ninety cases of simple obesity of gastrointestinal heat type were randomized into an EA group and a CA group, 45 cases in each one. In the EA group, CA was applied at Neiting （内庭 ST 44）, Shangjuxu （上巨虚 ST 37）, Xiajuxu （下巨虚 ST 39）, Fenglong （丰隆 ST 40）, Tianshu （天枢 ST 25）, Zusanli （足三里 ST 36）, YTnlingquan （阴陵泉 SP 9） and Ouchi （曲池 LI 12）. The electric stimulation was attached at ST 37, ST 44, ST 25 and ST 40. In CA group, the simple acupuncture was applied at the same points as the EA group. The treatment was given once every two days, 22 treatments made one session and 3 sessions were required totally in the two groups. The changes in body mass, obesity degree, body mass index （BMI） and body fat percentage （F%） were observed in the patients before and after treatment. The therapeutic effects on weight loss and fat loss were compared between the two groups. Results After treatment, the weight, obesity degree, BMI and F% were all reduced apparently in the patients of the two groups （all P〈0.01）. After the 2st session of treatment, concerning to the effect on weight loss, the total effective rate in the EA group was superior to that in the CA group [95.6% （43/45） vs 77.8% （35/45）, P〈0.05]. The effects were not different apparently between the two groups in the later 2 sessions of treatment （all P〉0.05）. The effect on fat loss was not different significantly in statistics between EA and CA （all P〉0.05）. Conclusion Either EA or CA achieves the significant effect on simple obesity. The therapeutic effect of EA on weight loss in the early stage is obviously superior to that of CA.
