〔Abstract〕 Objective To observe the effects of electroacupuncture and bifidobacterium on the survival state, the level of intestinal signaling substances and lipid metabolism levels in rats with simple obesity, and to compare their efficacy. Methods Sixty 4-week-old SPF SD rats with the body weight ranging from 40 to 60 g were purchased, 10(half male and half female) were given ordinary diet as blank group, and 50(half male and half female) were given high fat diet to prepare simple obese rat model. After 8 weeks, 30 obese rats successfully established in high fat group were randomly divided into obesity model group, electroacupuncture group and bifidus group, with 10 rats in each group(half male and half female). The treatment group was treated with electroacupuncture and bifidobacterium solution for 4 weeks, respectively, and the body mass of the rats was measured at a fixed time during the experiment. After the treatment cycle, the level of enterochromaffin cell(ECC) in colon was detected by silver staining, the levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT), histamine(HIS) in obese rats were detected by ELISA, the levels of total cholesterol(TC), triglyceride(TG), low density lipoprotein(LDL) and high density lipoprotein(HDL)were detected by biochemical method. Results After intervention, compared with model group, body weight, colon and hypothalamus 5-HT, HIS, colon ECC, serum TC, TG and LDL levels decreased in electroacupuncture group and bifidobacterium group, with statistical significance(P<0.05), although the serum HDL levels were increased, the difference was not statistically significant. And the indexes of the electroacupuncture group were more similar to those of the blank group than those of the bifidobacterium group. Conclusion The effect of electrotherapy on simple obesity rats is better than bifidobacterium. Electroacupuncture may stimulate the hypothalamus to reduce food intake, accelerate lipid metabolism and slow down obesity by adjusting the intestinal signaling substances in rats with simple obesity.