Obesity & Overweight, Metabolic Disorders, Electrotherapy
Conditions
Brief summary
Obesity is a major global health problem associated with metabolic dysfunction, altered adipokine signaling, and impaired appetite regulation. Conventional weight loss strategies such as calorie restriction often result in compensatory physiological adaptations, including increased appetite and loss of lean body mass, which may limit long-term effectiveness. Whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) is an emerging, time-efficient intervention that induces simultaneous muscle activation and may improve metabolic health. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms, particularly the interaction between myokines and adipokines, remain insufficiently understood. This randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the effects of an energy-restricted diet combined with WB-EMS on myokine-adipokine interaction, appetite regulation, and body composition in obese individuals. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a diet-only group or a diet plus WB-EMS group for 8 weeks. Primary outcomes include changes in serum irisin levels. Secondary outcomes include myostatin, leptin, adiponectin, FGF-21, ghrelin, GLP-1, body composition parameters, and eating behavior. The findings of this study are expected to provide novel insights into the physiological and molecular effects of WB-EMS as a complementary strategy in obesity management.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALEnergy-Restricted Diet
A personalized diet with approximately 750 kcal/day energy deficit.
Whole-body electromyostimulation applied 2-3 times per week for 8 weeks under supervision.
Sponsors
Firat University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)
Intervention model description
Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either an energy-restricted diet group or an energy-restricted diet plus whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) group. The study will follow a parallel-group design with two intervention arms over an 8-week period.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Age between 18 and 65 years * Body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m² * Sedentary lifestyle (less than 2 hours of structured exercise per week) * Willingness to participate and provide written informed consent
Exclusion criteria
* Presence of pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator * Known cardiovascular disease or severe chronic illness * Pregnancy or breastfeeding * Uncontrolled diabetes or severe metabolic disorders * Active malignancy or cancer treatment * Severe renal or hepatic failure * Acute infection or inflammatory disease * Orthopedic conditions limiting physical activity * Use of medications affecting body composition or appetite (e.g., corticosteroids, weight-loss drugs) * Regular resistance training within the last 3 months * Substance abuse, including alcohol or drug dependency * Psychiatric or cognitive conditions affecting adherence to the study protocol
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in serum irisin levels | Baseline to 8 weeks | Assessment of change in circulating irisin levels measured by ELISA. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in serum myostatin levels | Baseline to 8 weeks | Assessment of change in circulating myostatin levels measured by ELISA. |
| Change in serum leptin levels | Baseline to 8 weeks | Assessment of change in circulating leptin levels. |
| Change in serum adiponectin levels | Baseline to 8 weeks | Assessment of change in circulating adiponectin levels. |
| Change in serum FGF-21 levels | Baseline to 8 weeks | Assessment of change in circulating fibroblast growth factor-21 levels. |
| Change in serum ghrelin levels | Baseline to 8 weeks | Assessment of change in circulating ghrelin levels. |
| Change in serum GLP-1 levels | Baseline to 8 weeks | Assessment of change in circulating GLP-1 levels. |
| Change in fat mass | Baseline to 8 weeks | Assessment of change in total body fat mass measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). |
| Change in fat-free mass | Baseline to 8 weeks | Assessment of change in fat-free mass measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). |
| Change in body fat percentage | Baseline to 8 weeks | Assessment of change in body fat percentage measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). |
| Change in eating behavior scores | Baseline to 8 weeks | Assessment of eating behavior using the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire-Revised 21 (TFEQ-R21). The questionnaire evaluates cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating, and emotional eating behaviors. Scores range from 21 to 84, with higher scores indicating more problematic eating behaviors. |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Contacts
CONTACTMurat Acik, PhD
CONTACTMuharrem Gökhan Beydağı, PhD
Outcome results
None listed