Objective To analyze the effect of acupuncture combined with acupoint catgut embedding on weight loss in patients with simple obesity. Methods A total of 100 patients with simple obesity received in our hospital from July 2022 to October 2023 were selected. According to the random number table method, they were divided into control group and observation group, with 50 patients in each group. The control group was treated with acupuncture, and the observation group was treated with acupuncture combined with acupoint catgut embedding. The clinical efficacy, lipid metabolism levels [total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)], BMI, waist-hip ratio, waist circumference and rebound rate were compared between the two groups. Results The total effective rate of the observation group (98.00%) was higher than that of the control group (76.00%) (P<0.05). After treatment, TC, TG and LDL-C in the observation group were lower than those in the control group, and HDL-C was higher than that in the control group (P <0.05). After treatment, BMI, waist-hip ratio and waist circumference in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P <0.05). The rebound rate of the observation group was lower than that of the control group at 3 and 6 months after treatment (P <0.05). Conclusion Acupoint catgut embedding combined with acupuncture has a good effect on weight loss in patients with simple obesity, which can improve their lipid metabolism level, body mass index, waist-hip ratio and waist circumference, and reduce the rebound rate.