@article{Encarnacion_Dampil_Damian_Doquenia_Redondo-Samin_Woolbright_2020, title={Efficacy of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) in Inducing Weight Loss among Obese Filipino Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial}, volume={35}, url={https://asean-endocrinejournal.org/index.php/JAFES/article/view/863}, DOI={10.15605/jafes.035.02.06}, abstractNote={<center><img src="https://asean-endocrinejournal.org/public/site/images/admin/va-39-md.jpg" alt="" width="549" height="309"></center><center><strong><img src="https://asean-endocrinejournal.org/public/site/images/admin/va-39-lay.jpg" alt="" width="549" height="309"></strong></center><center><em>*Visual Abstracts prepared by Dr. Francis Xavier Mislang</em></center> <p><strong>Objective</strong>. To determine the efficacy of rTMS in decreasing body mass index (BMI) versus sham stimulation among obese Filipino patients.</p> <p><strong>Methodology.</strong> This was a single-center, randomized, sham-controlled, single-blind, parallel group trial. Participants were 15-65 years old with BMI ≥30 kg/m<sup>2</sup> and weight stable for 6 weeks. Participants were randomized to receive real rTMS or sham stimulation. Each underwent 4 sessions of stimulation over 2 weeks. Anthropometrics, total caloric intake (TCI), and VAS score for appetite were taken at baseline, 2, 4, 6, and 12 weeks.</p> <p><strong>Results.</strong> A total of 31 patients were randomized with 15 to the treatment and 14 to sham stimulation completing treatment, with 2 lost to follow-up. A significant decrease in BMI was noted after 4 weeks from the start of rTMS in the treatment group, (0.6±0.6, <em>p-value</em>=0.001), with weight change of -1.3±1.3 kg (<em>p-value</em>=0.009), but was no longer observed at 6 weeks onwards. No severe adverse effects were noted.</p> <p><strong>Conclusion</strong>. rTMS to the DLPFC effectively decreased BMI (0.6±0.6) and weight (-1.3±1.3 kg) from baseline to 4 weeks. At 6-12 weeks after rTMS however, there was no longer a significant difference, indicating that 4 sessions of rTMS may not be enough to produce a prolonged effect on weight loss.</p>}, number={2}, journal={Journal of the ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies}, author={Encarnacion, Margaret and Dampil, Oliver Allan and Damian, Ludwig and Doquenia, Maria Leila and Redondo-Samin, Divina Cristy and Woolbright, Mary Karen}, year={2020}, month={Oct.}, pages={181–189} }