Obesity & OverweightNCT07646457
Comparative Effectiveness of Western Pharmacotherapy Versus Integrative Western and Traditional Chinese Medicine for Weight Management in Central Taiwan: A Real-World Cohort Study
An observational study of Obesity & Overweight, run by National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University at 1 site in Taiwan.
Trial summary
Obesity is a major public health issue. While modern Western pharmacotherapies (e.g., GLP-1 receptor agonists) and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are utilized for weight management, the comparative effectiveness of their integration remains unclear. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 20 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Obesity & Overweight
- How many people
- 296 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTaiwan
- Study dates
- 1 Apr 2026to 30 Jun 2026
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 20 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: Adult patients with overweight or obesity receiving weight management treatment in a hospital-based outpatient setting in Taiwan. Participants were identified from a retrospective clinical database and received pharmacologic therapy, primarily semaglutide, with or without adjunctive medications and/or traditional Chinese medicine interventions.
Who may be able to join
- Adults aged ≥20 years
- Obesity defined by Health Promotion Administration, Taiwan: BMI ≥27 kg/m², or BMI ≥24 kg/m² with metabolic comorbidities
- Received weight management treatment
- Primary pharmacologic therapy with: Rybelsus® (oral semaglutide), or Ozempic® (subcutaneous semaglutide)
- May have received adjunctive weight-loss medications, including: Mounjaro® (tirzepatide), SGLT2 inhibitors, Contrave® (naltrexone/bupropion)
Who cannot join
- Incomplete data, including missing baseline measurements or absence of follow-up records, precluding assessment of treatment effectiveness
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- History of bariatric surgery during the study period (e.g., gastric bypass, gastric banding)
- Presence of major medical conditions that may significantly affect body weight independent of obesity treatment (e.g., active malignancy, end-stage organ failure)
- Patients deemed unsuitable for inclusion by the investigators (e.g., poor treatment adherence or unreliable data)
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Obesity is a major public health issue. While modern Western pharmacotherapies (e.g., GLP-1 receptor agonists) and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are utilized for weight management, the comparative effectiveness of their integration remains unclear. This study aims to compare the effects of Western medicine (WM) alone versus integrative WM and TCM on body weight and composition. A retrospective cohort study design will be employed, aiming to enroll approximately 500 patients (BMI ≥ 27) receiving treatment at a regional hospital in Central Taiwan. Participants will be categorized into the WM-only or WM+TCM groups. The primary outcome is the percentage of total body weight loss (%TBWL) at 6 and 12 months. Secondary outcomes include changes in body composition, including fat percentage and the muscle-to-fat ratio (MFR). Statistical analysis will utilize Propensity Score Matching (PSM) or Inverse Probability of Treatment Weighting (IPTW) to balance baseline differences and Mixed-Effects Models for Repeated Measures (MMRM) for longitudinal data analysis. Interaction effects between different WM modalities and TCM will be explored (sub-analysis). Preliminary analysis indicated that individualized treatment significantly reduced body fat and increased MFR. This study anticipates further clarifying the advantages of integrative WM+TCM and identifying the optimal synergistic combinations, providing crucial real-world evidence for clinical weight management strategies.
- Conditions
- Obesity & Overweight
- Medical subject headings
- Obesity, Overweight
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Percentage change in body weight associated with Chinese herbal medicine use
Percentage change in body weight from baseline will be calculated and compared between participants exposed to Chinese herbal medicine and non-exposed participants during the study period.
Measured: From baseline to end of follow-up (up to 14 months)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted12 Jun 2026
- Study start1 Apr 2026
- Primary completion28 Apr 2026
- Study completion30 Jun 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Obesity & OverweightStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by National Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Retrospective
- Enrolment
- 296 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07646457
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 115005
- Status last verified
- Jan 2026
- First submitted
- 18 May 2026
- Last updated
- 12 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 12 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Comparative Effectiveness of Western Pharmacotherapy Versus Integrative Western and Traditional Chinese Medicine for Weight Management in Central Taiwan: A Real-World Cohort Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07646457
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 115005
- Conditions
- Obesity & Overweight
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 296 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- National Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Apr 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 28 Apr 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Jun 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 12 Jun 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Obesity is a major public health issue. While modern Western pharmacotherapies (e.g., GLP-1 receptor agonists) and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are utilized for weight management, the comparative effectiveness of their integration remains unclear. This study aims to compare the effects of Western medicine (WM) alone versus integrative WM and TCM on body weight and composition. A retrospective cohort study design will be employed, aiming to enroll approximately 500 patients (BMI ≥ 27) receiving treatment at a regional hospital in Central Taiwan. Participants will be categorized into the WM-only or WM+TCM groups. The primary outcome is the percentage of total body weight loss (%TBWL) at 6 and 12 months. Secondary outcomes include changes in body composition, including fat percentage and the muscle-to-fat ratio (MFR). Statistical analysis will utilize Propensity Score Matching (PSM) or Inverse Probability of Treatment Weighting (IPTW) to balance baseline differences and Mixed-Effects Models for Repeated Measures (MMRM) for longitudinal data analysis. Interaction effects between different WM modalities and TCM will be explored (sub-analysis). Preliminary analysis indicated that individualized treatment significantly reduced body fat and increased MFR. This study anticipates further clarifying the advantages of integrative WM+TCM and identifying the optimal synergistic combinations, providing crucial real-world evidence for clinical weight management strategies.
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Retrospective
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 20 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- Adult patients with overweight or obesity receiving weight management treatment in a hospital-based outpatient setting in Taiwan. Participants were identified from a retrospective clinical database and received pharmacologic therapy, primarily semaglutide, with or without adjunctive medications and/or traditional Chinese medicine interventions.
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Adults aged ≥20 years
- Obesity defined by Health Promotion Administration, Taiwan: BMI ≥27 kg/m², or BMI ≥24 kg/m² with metabolic comorbidities
- Received weight management treatment
- Primary pharmacologic therapy with: Rybelsus® (oral semaglutide), or Ozempic® (subcutaneous semaglutide)
- May have received adjunctive weight-loss medications, including: Mounjaro® (tirzepatide), SGLT2 inhibitors, Contrave® (naltrexone/bupropion)
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Incomplete data, including missing baseline measurements or absence of follow-up records, precluding assessment of treatment effectiveness
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- History of bariatric surgery during the study period (e.g., gastric bypass, gastric banding)
- Presence of major medical conditions that may significantly affect body weight independent of obesity treatment (e.g., active malignancy, end-stage organ failure)
- Patients deemed unsuitable for inclusion by the investigators (e.g., poor treatment adherence or unreliable data)
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Primary outcome
Percentage change in body weight associated with Chinese herbal medicine use
Time frame: From baseline to end of follow-up (up to 14 months)
Percentage change in body weight from baseline will be calculated and compared between participants exposed to Chinese herbal medicine and non-exposed participants during the study period.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 12 Jun 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Obesity & Overweight, run by National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University at 1 site in Taiwan.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 12 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Taiwan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Percentage change in body weight associated with Chinese herbal medicine use (time frame: From baseline to end of follow-up (up to 14 months)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 12 Jun 2026.