Korean Medicine with Self-monitoring for Weight Control and Factors Associated with Weight Loss: a Retrospective Observational Study

In-Yeong Jang; Ju-Hyuk Yim; Ji-Seon Park; Ji-Seong Kim; Tae-Hun Kim; Jang, In-Yeong; Yim, Ju-Hyuk; Park, Ji-Seon; Kim, Ji-Seong; Kim, Tae-Hun

doi:10.13048/jkm.22008

JKM > Volume 43(1); 2022 > Article

Jang, Yim, Park, Kim, and Kim: Korean Medicine with Self-monitoring for Weight Control and Factors Associated with Weight Loss: a Retrospective Observational Study

Original Article

The Journal of Korean Medicine 2022; 43(1): 87-98.

Published online: March 1, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.13048/jkm.22008

Korean Medicine with Self-monitoring for Weight Control and Factors Associated with Weight Loss: a Retrospective Observational Study

In-Yeong Jang¹^{, 2,†}

, Ju-Hyuk Yim^2,†

, Ji-Seon Park²

, Ji-Seong Kim²

, Tae-Hun Kim¹^{, 3}

¹Department of Clinical Korean Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University

²Acro Korean Medicine Clinic

³Korean Medicine Clinical Trial Center, Korean Medicine Hospital, Kyung Hee University

Correspondence to Tae-Hun Kim, Korean Medicine Clinical Trial Center, Korean Medicine Hospital, Kyung Hee University, Tel: +82-2-958-9088, e-mail: rockandmineral@gmail.com

Received February 11, 2022 Revised February 18, 2022 Accepted February 18, 2022

Abstract

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of weight loss in Korean Medicine (KM) obesity treatment combined with self-monitoring and to identify the relevant factors which are related to successful weight loss. In addition to this, adverse events reported by the patients were analyzed to assess the safety of KM treatments for obesity

Methods

This was a retrospective observational study that analyzed the medical records of the patients that participated in the 10-week of KM treatment. All patients took herbal medicine for weight loss and were instructed to reduce calorie intake and adhere to self-monitoring. Clinical data including body weight were collected for evaluating the effect of the treatments. Behavior factors affecting weight loss were collected. The correlation between each factor and weight loss was analyzed. Adverse events (AEs) were collected at each time to evaluate the safety of the intervention.

Results

One hundred eighteen patients’ records were included in this study. The average weight loss was 7.64kg(74.59kg to 66.95kg). 94.9% of patients lost 5% or more of their initial weight. The degree of weight loss was identified to be related to self-assessment of diet control and self-assessment of appetite control. The average self-weighing frequency significantly increased(2.45 times/week before treatment and 4.70 times/weeks during treatment). Constipation, insomnia, and dizziness were found to be the most frequent AEs, and except for one case, most AEs were mild cases.

Conclusion

From this study, we found that KM obesity treatment combined with self-monitoring showed significant weight loss without serious AE.

Keywords: Weight loss, Behavior therapy, Self-monitoring, Self-weighing, Obesity, Herbal Medicine

Fig. 1

Flow diagram for the selection process of study cases

Table 1

Baseline Characteristics

Number (Female/Male)	118 (106/12)
Age (years)	38.01±10.22
Height (cm)	162.75±6.95
Weight (kg)	74.59±14.85
BMI (kg/m²)	28.02±4.32
PHQ-9	5.26±4.14
Sleeping time (hours)	6.78±1.03
Self-weighing frequency (times/week)	2.45±2.61
History of taking medications for weight loss (n)
Herbal medicine only	39
Chemical drug only	11
Both	19
Absence	49

Table 2

Changes in Body Weight and Body Mass Index

	Baseline	After 10 weeks	Change	t	p
Weight (kg)	74.59±14.86	66.95±13.24	−7.64±3.16	26.241	<0.001^*
BMI (kg/m²)	28.02±4.32	25.15±3.84	−2.87±1.11	28.117	<0.001^*

Paired t-test was used to analyze the differences between baseline and endpoint measurements.

Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index (calculated the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters)

The values are presented means±standard deviation.

* p<0.05.

Table 3

Adverse Events According to the System Organ Classes

System-organ classes	Symptom	After 2 weeks		After 6 weeks		After 10 weeks

		n	(%)	n	(%)	n	(%)
Cardiac disorders	Palpitation	15	(11.8)	6	(7.4)	5	(6.8)

Gastrointestinal disorders	Constipation	31	(24.4)	31	(38.3)	27	(37.0)
	Dry mouth	2	(1.6)	1	(1.2)	0	(0.0)
	Dyspepsia	10	(7.9)	7	(8.6)	1	(1.4)
	Vomiting	0	(0.0)	0	(0.0)	1	(1.4)

General disorders	Fatigue	2	(1.6)	0	(0.0)	0	(0.0)

Musculoskeletal disorders	Muscle cramp	0	(0.0)	1	(1.2)	1	(1.4)
Musculoskeletal disorders	Myalgia	0	(0.0)	0	(0.0)	1	(1.4)

Nervous system disorders	Dizziness	21	(16.5)	10	(12.3)	9	(12.3)
	Headache	11	(8.7)	6	(7.4)	6	(8.2)
	Paresthesia	5	(3.9)	0	(0.0)	0	(0.0)
	Tremor	3	(2.4)	1	(1.2)	1	(1.4)

Psychiatric disorders	Agitation	1	(0.8)	0	(0.0)	0	(0.0)
Psychiatric disorders	Insomnia	24	(18.9)	18	(22.2)	18	(24.7)

Reproductive system disorders	Irregular menstruation	0	(0.0)	0	(0.0)	1	(1.4)

Renal and urinary disorders	Urinary tract pain	0	(0.0)	0	(0.0)	1	(1.4)

Skin and subcutaneous tissue Disorders	Hyperhidrosis	1	(0.8)	0	(0.0)	1	(1.4)
Skin and subcutaneous tissue Disorders	Pruritus	1	(0.8)	0	(0.0)	0	(0.0)

Total		127	(100.0)	81	(100.0)	73	(100.0)

Table 4

Simple Correlation Analysis

	Pearson correlation coefficient (r)	p
Self-monitoring factors
Self-weighing frequency	0.126	0.173
Self-assessment of diet control	0.412	<0.001^*
Self-assessment of satiety	0.125	0.178
Self-assessment of appetite control	0.207	0.025^*

Other factors
Dose of Ephedrae herba	−0.151	0.104
PHQ-9	0.142	0.124
Sleeping time	−0.082	0.377
Gender	0.078	0.402
Age	−0.025	0.791

Percent weight change was used as a dependent variable and each score was used as an independent variable for simple correlation analysis.

Percent weight change means (baseline weight-endpoint weight) / (baseline weight) ×100(%).

Abbreviations: PHQ-9, Patient Health Questionnaire-9.

* p<0.05.

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