Analysis of Weight Loss and Adverse Events in Overweight, and Obese Patients on Korean Medicine Weight Management Program with Face-to-Face Treatment and Non-Face-to-Face Treatment: A Retrospective Chart Review

Article information

J Korean Med. 2022;43(3):65-78

Publication date (electronic) : 2022 September 1

doi : https://doi.org/10.13048/jkm.22031

Eunjoo Kim ¹^,²

, Young-Woo Lim ¹^,²

, Ji-Myung Ok ³

, Seo-Young Kim ¹^,²^,

¹Nubebe Korean Medical Clinic Bundang Center

²Nubebe Mibyeong Research Institute

³Nubebe Korean Medical Clinic Gangnam Center

Correspondence to: Seo-Young Kim, Nubebe Korean Medical Clinic Bundang Center, 10 Seongnam-daero, 926beon-gil, Bundang-gu, Tel: +82-31-702-0045, Fax: +82-31-701-8993, E-mail: woori4025@hanmail.net

Received 2022 June 10; Revised 2022 July 8; Accepted 2022 August 16.

Abstract

Objectives

The purpose of this study is to analyze the weight loss and the adverse events of overweight and obese adults on weight loss program with face-to-face treatment (FTF) and non-face-to-face treatment (NFTF) in 6 Korean Medicine obesity clinics.

Methods

From March 2nd to March 10th, 2021, we collected data with a retrospective way from overweight and obese adults (body mass index, BMI≥23 kg/m²) who registered for a 12-week Gamitaeeumjowi-tang prescription program. After matching initial information of the FTF group and the NFTF group using propensity matching score, weight loss and BMI change were analyzed, and adverse events were evaluated in terms of causality, severity and system-organ classes.

Results

Weight and BMI change from baseline to 12 weeks was −7.98±3.09kg (10.41±3.57%), −3.03±1.14kg/m² and −7.30±3.11kg (9.59±3.45%), −2.76±1.15kg/m² for FTF group and NFTF group, respectively. Body weight and BMI significantly decreased before and after treatment in both groups, and there was no significant difference in weight loss and BMI change between the two groups. No serious adverse events were reported.

Conclusions

This study showed the potential that NFTF weight management treatment could be a good alternative way to FTF weight management treatment without serious adverse events.

Keywords: Telemedicine; Obesity; Weight loss

Fig. 1

Non-face-to-face treatment protocol

NFTFT: non-face-to-face treatment

Fig. 2

Flowchart of dataset for analysis

FTFT: face-to-face treatment; NFTFT: non-face-to-face treatment; PSM: propensity score matching

Fig. 3

Weight loss and BMI change with a general linear model

FTFT: face-to-face treatment; NFTFT: none face-to-face treatment

Weight and body mass index were significantly decreased before and after treatment in each group (p<0.001). There was no significant difference in weight and BMI between the two groups (p>0.05).

Table 1

Exclusion Criteria for Prescription

Table 2

Basal Characteristics of Subjects

Table 3

Comparison of Changes in Weight and Body Mass Index

Table 4

Adverse Events Reported from 46 subjects

Table 5

Adverse Events According to System Organ Classes

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Article information Continued

Fig. 1

Non-face-to-face treatment protocol

NFTFT: non-face-to-face treatment

Fig. 2

Flowchart of dataset for analysis

FTFT: face-to-face treatment; NFTFT: non-face-to-face treatment; PSM: propensity score matching

Fig. 3

Weight loss and BMI change with a general linear model

FTFT: face-to-face treatment; NFTFT: none face-to-face treatment

Weight and body mass index were significantly decreased before and after treatment in each group (p<0.001). There was no significant difference in weight and BMI between the two groups (p>0.05).

Table 1

Exclusion Criteria for Prescription

Heart disease (heart failure, arrythmia, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, etc.), uncontrolled hypertension, past history of stroke or ischemic heart attack
Hyperthyroidism
Glaucoma, serious neurological or psychological diseases (schizophrenia, epilepsy, alcoholics, drug addiction, anorexia, bulimia nervosa, etc.)
Malignant tumor, liver failure, renal failure
Children, adolescents
Pregnant women, breast feeding women
Patients taking Tuberculosis drugs, asthma drugs, drugs affecting the central nervous system
Or the other chronic neurological or cardiovascular disease

Table 2

Basal Characteristics of Subjects

	Total (n=46)	FTFT (n=23)	NFTFT (n=23)	p-value
Age (years)	38.09±8.24	37.70±10.48	38.48±5.36	p>0.05
Female (n, %)	42 (91.30)	21 (91.30)	21 (91.30)	p>0.05
Initial weight (kg)	75.69±11.61	76.04±12.79	75.35±10.59	p>0.05
Initial BMI (kg/m²)	28.66±3.19	28.83±3.47	28.49±2.95	p>0.05

FTFT: face-to-face treatment; NFTFT: non-face-to-face treatment

Data are expressed as n(%) for categorical variables and mean±SD for continuous variables.

Table 3

Comparison of Changes in Weight and Body Mass Index

	Total (n=46)	FTFT (n=23)	NFTFT (n=23)	p-value
Initial weight (kg)	75.69±11.61	76.04±12.79	75.35±10.59	p>0.05
Second weight (kg)	70.93±10.96	71.00±11.97^*	70.87±10.12^*	p>0.05
Final weight (kg)	68.06±10.46	68.07±11.57^*	68.05±9.50^*	p>0.05
Weight loss (kg)	7.64±3.08	7.98±3.09	7.30±3.11	p>0.05
Initial BMI (kg/m²)	28.66±3.19	28.83±3.47	28.49±2.95	p>0.05
Second BMI (kg/m²)	26.86±3.00	26.91±3.20^*	26.80±2.85^*	p>0.05
Final BMI (kg/m²)	25.77±2.81	25.80±3.05^*	25.73±2.61^*	p>0.05
BMI change (kg/m²)	−2.89±1.14	−3.03±1.14	−2.76±1.15	p>0.05

FTFT: face-to-face treatment; NFTFT: none face-to-face treatment

Second weight (kg): weight at 6 week; final weight (kg): weight at 12 week; weight loss (kg)=final weight-initial weight; BMI Change (kg/m2)

Data are expressed as n (%) for categorical variables and mean±SD for continuous variables

p<0.001, Comparison before and after within-group treatment

Table 4

Adverse Events Reported from 46 subjects

	6weeks, n(%)			12weeks, n(%)

	FTFT	NFTFT	Total	FTFT	NFTFT	Total
Casuality(WHO-UMC)
Possible	5 (45.5)	5 (83.3)	10 (58.8)	2 (25.0)	3 (60.0)	5 (38.5)
Unlikely	6 (54.5)	0 (0)	6 (35.3)	6 (75.0)	2 (40.0)	8 (61.5)
Conditional/unclassified	0 (0)	1 (16.7)	1 (5.9)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)
Total	11 (100)	6 (100)	17 (100)	8 (100)	5 (100)	13 (100)

Severity(CTCAE)
Mild (grade 1)	11 (100)	6 (100)	17 (100)	8 (100)	5 (100)	13 (100)
Moderate (grade 2)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)
Severe (grade 3)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)
Total	11 (100)	6 (100)	17 (100)	8 (100)	5 (100)	13 (100)

Table 5

Adverse Events According to System Organ Classes

		6 w, n(%)		12w, n(%)

System-organ classes	Symptom	FTFT	NFTFT	FTFT	NFTFT
Gastro-intestinal system disorders	Constipation	5 (45.45)	3 (50.0)	2 (25.0)	0 (0)
	Nausea	1 (9.09)	0 (0)	2 (25.0)	1 (20.0)
	Dry mouth or Thirst	1 (9.09)	0 (0)	0 (0)	1 (20.0)
	Subtotal	7 (63.63)	3 (50.0)	4 (50.0)	2 (40.0)

Psychiatric disorders	Insomnia	0 (0)	0 (0)	1 (12.5)	1 (20.0)
Psychiatric disorders	Subtotal	0 (0)	0 (0)	1 (12.5)	1 (20.0)

Central & Peripheral nervous system Disorders	Dizziness	2 (18.18)	0 (0)	1 (12.5)	0 (0)
	Headache	1 (9.09)	1 (16.66)	2 (25.0)	1 (20.0)
	Subtotal	3 (27.27)	1 (16.66)	3 (37.5)	1 (20.0)

Vascular disorders	Peripheral coldness	1 (9.09)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)
Vascular disorders	Subtotal	1 (9.09)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)

Autonomic nervous system disorders	Palpitation	0 (0)	1 (16.66)	0 (0)	1 (20.0)
Autonomic nervous system disorders	Subtotal	0 (0)	1 (16.66)	0 (0)	1 (20.0)

Skin and appendages disorders	Pruritus	0 (0)	1 (16.66)	0 (0)	0 (0)
	Subtotal	0 (0)	1 (16.66)	0 (0)	0 (0)
	Total	11 (100)	6 (100)	8 (100)	5 (100)