ObjectiveTo systematically review the efficacy of auricular pressure therapy for simple obesity in adult. MethodsWe electronically searched databases including The Cochrane Library (Issue 4, 2015), PubMed, Web of Science, MEDⅡNE (Ovid), CNKI, VIP, CBM and WanFang Data databases to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of auricular pressure therapy for simple obesity from inception to March 2015. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Then, meta-analysis was performed by using RevMan 5.3 software. ResultsA total of 17 RCTs involving 1 246 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that:(1) Compared with the blank control group, the auricular pressure therapy group was superior in weight reduction (MD=-2.50, 95%CI -3.53 to -1.47, P<0.01), BMI reduction (MD=-1.50, 95%CI -2.52 to -0.48, P=0.004), and waist circumference reduction (MD=-3.20, 95%CI -4.38 to -2.02, P<0.01); (2) Compared with the placebo control group, the auricular pressure therapy group was superior in weight reduction (MD=-1.39, 95%CI -1.46 to -1.31, P<0.01), BMI reduction (MD=-0.65, 95%CI -0.91 to -0.38, P<0.01), body fat percentage reduction (MD=-0.58, 95%CI -0.67 to -0.49, P<0.01), and waist circumference reduction (MD=-2.34, 95%CI -4.23 to -0.46, P=0.01); (3) There were no significant differences between the auricular pressure therapy group and the body acupuncture group in weight reduction, BMI reduction, and waist circumference reduction (all P values >0.05); (4) Compared with the body acupuncture group, the auricular pressure combined with body acupuncture group was superior in BMI reduction (MD=-1.67, 95%CI -2.48 to -0.85, P<0.01); (5) Three RCTs reported adverse reactions including cyanotic skin, erythema near auricular pressure etc., and all adverse reactions were mostly mild and recovered after treatment. ConclusionCurrent evidence indicates that auricular pressure therapy for simple obesity is superior to placebo and blank control, but similar to body acupuncture; the auricular pressure combined with body acupuncture is superior to body acupuncture alone in BMI reduction. Due to the limited quantity and quality of included studies, more high quality studies are needed to verify the above conclusion.