Weight Control Registry Using Korean Medicine: A Protocol for a Prospective Registry Study

Area of Science:

• Integrative Medicine
• Obesity Research
• Real-World Data Studies

Background:

• Lifestyle and physical factors significantly influence body weight, necessitating precise weight loss interventions.
• Korean medicine (KM) treatments, including herbal medicine and acupuncture, are increasingly utilized for weight loss in Korea.
• Existing real-world data (RWD) on KM for weight loss lack longitudinal depth and diversity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish the prospective Weight Control Registry using KM (WCR-KM).
• To collect diverse, longitudinal RWD on KM weight loss treatments from multiple clinics.
• To build a high-quality database for advancing KM-based obesity management.

Main Methods:

• Prospective registry study enrolling patients aged 19-65 receiving KM for weight loss.
• Regular collection of clinical data on patient characteristics and KM treatment patterns until 2026.
• Inclusion of patients who provide informed consent and understand study objectives.

Main Results:

• The registry aims to longitudinally accumulate diverse RWD on KM weight loss treatments.
• A high-quality study database will be established for KM obesity management.
• The study is designed to address current gaps in RWD for KM weight loss.

Conclusions:

• The WCR-KM registry is expected to enhance the understanding of current KM weight loss trends.
• This initiative will provide valuable data to answer further research questions in KM obesity treatment.
• The study contributes to evidence-based practice in integrative weight management.