[Quality of methodology and reporting of randomized controlled trials of acupuncture for obesity].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the quality of methodology and reporting of randomized controlled trials of acupuncture for obesity worldwide.

METHODS: Collecting all the randomized controlled trials of acupuncture for obesity worldwide by systematically searching without language limitation. The quality of methodology and reporting was evaluated by the quality criteria recommended by Cochrane handbook and CONSORT (consolidate standards of reporting trial) and STRICTA (standard for reporting interventions in controlled trials of acupuncture) checklists.

RESULTS: Seven randomized controlled trials of acupuncture for obesity were identified. The quality of methodology was graded as "A" in one trial, "B" in two trials and "C" in the other four trials. The reporting quality of the seven trials was graded as "C".

CONCLUSIONS: The methodology quality of the randomized controlled trials of acupuncture for obesity was too poor to provide strong evidence for clinical practice, and the poor reporting quality of the trials resulted in inadequate information from the trials.