Simple obesity has become a global public-health problem, among which spleen deficiency and dampness obstruction syndrome is one of the most common TCM syndromes. As representative external therapies of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture and acupoint catgut-embedding therapy have their own characteristics in the treatment of simple obesity, and their combined application can produce synergistic therapeutic effects. In recent years, clinical studies on acupuncture combined with acupoint catgut-embedding therapy for simple obesity of spleen deficiency and dampness obstruction syndrome have been increasing, which demonstrate that this combined therapy presents favorable curative effects in improving body mass index, waist circumference, blood-lipid metabolism and TCM syndromes of patients. Based on clinical literatures, this paper systematically elaborates the mechanism and clinical efficacy of acupuncture and acupoint catgut-embedding therapy for simple obesity, so as to provide more therapeutic ideas for clinicians and safer and more effective treatment options for patients.