Mixed
Integrative Korean Medicine Treatment (IKMT), comprising personalized herbal medicine (including Ephedrae Herba) and dietitian-led lifestyle modification, produces statistically significant weight loss and blood pressure reductions in obese adults with a safety profile comparable to or better than GLP-1 receptor agonists.
This study suggests that a structured program combining personalized herbal medicine (specifically containing Ephedrae Herba) with professional dietary coaching can lead to significant weight loss (average ~8.7%, up to ~28% in best responders) and improved blood pressure. It serves as a viable alternative for individuals who cannot tolerate or afford GLP-1 medications, provided they undergo proper medical screening for contraindications like heart or liver disease.
IKMT combined with LM appears to be a safe and effective approach for obesity management. ... IKMT at Daeat KMC may offer a safer profile for WL compared to GLP-1 RAs.
Why this rating
Retrospective observational study with a large sample size (n=3161) but lacking a placebo control and randomization.
Source
Herbal Medicine and Lifestyle Modifications for People with Obesity: A Single-Center, Retrospective, Observational Study
Minwoo Bang et al. · Pharmaceuticals · 2025
DOI 10.3390/ph18091396
Related findings · Mixed
- Bariatric surgery (VSG and RYGB) is the most effective and sustainable treatment for obesity, producing marked and sustained weight loss that non-surgical interventions cannot match.Strong
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- For patients with Class III obesity (BMI >39.9 kg/m2), metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS) is significantly more effective than any currently approved medication, with BilioPancreatic Diversion (BPD) showing the highest estimated weight loss.Strong
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