Integrative Korean Medicine Treatment for Obesity and Overweight in Children and Adolescents: A Multicenter Retrospective Chart Review Study

Hae Sun Seo, Sun Haeng Lee, Mi Hong Yim, Yoon Kyoung Jeong, Gyu Tae Chang, Ye Ji Ahn, Jae Dong Lee, Won Seok Chung, Se Young Ahn, Young Min Ahn, Byung Cheol Lee, Ji Won Noh, Boram Lee

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Introduction: Integrative Korean medicine treatment (IKM), including herbal medicine (HM) and acupuncture, has been widely used for obesity and overweight in children and adolescents in South Korea. We investigated the real-world usage status and the potential effect of the IKM for obesity and overweight in children and adolescents. Methods: Multicenter medical charts were retrospectively reviewed of obese and overweight children and adolescents who visited Korean medicine institutions with the goal of weight control for the first time and received IKM, to analyze the usage status and effect of IKM. We defined IKM responders as those with an improved obesity grade on the body mass index (BMI) percentile and analyzed their characteristics. Results: Medical charts of 209 patients (183 obese and 26 overweight) with a mean age of 11.45 years were examined. Patients visited the institution a mean of 5.95 times, and HM alone and HM plus acupuncture were frequently used IKM. HM was prescribed to 205 patients, 167 of whom received an HM prescription containing Ephedrae Herba. An HM of the decoction type was prescribed to 189 patients, and the average treatment duration was 76.54 days. After IKM, the percentile and z-score of BMI and weight significantly declined and height percentile and z-score were significantly enhanced, without serious adverse events. In the IKM responders, age, and the proportion of girls and overweight were significantly higher, and the percentile and z-score of height, weight, and BMI were significantly lower. Conclusion: This is the first study to examine the real-world usage of IKM for obesity and overweight in children and adolescents. A significant improvement in obesity-related outcome measures after IKM, illustrated the potential effect of IKM.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2821-2832
Number of pages12
JournalDiabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Targets and Therapy
Volume16
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Seo et al. This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited.

Keywords

  • acupuncture
  • childhood overweight
  • herbal medicine
  • pediatric obesity
  • traditional Korean medicine

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