Obesity
Conditions
Keywords
Whole-body electromyostimulation, Irisin, Betatrophin
Brief summary
This randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of an 8-week whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) combined with a hypocaloric diet on body composition, cardiometabolic markers, and serum levels of the myokines irisin and betatrophin (ANGPTL8) in women with obesity. Participants were randomly assigned to either a diet-only group or a diet plus WB-EMS group. WB-EMS sessions were conducted twice weekly (20-25 minutes per session) over 8 weeks. The primary outcomes included BMI, body fat percentage, lean body mass, fasting blood glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, HbA1c, lipid profile, CRP, and serum irisin and betatrophin concentrations. The study aimed to evaluate whether WB-EMS adds metabolic and myokine-related benefits beyond those achieved by dietary restriction alone in obese women.
Detailed description
This study was a randomized controlled trial (RCT) designed to investigate the effects of an 8-week whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) combined with a hypocaloric diet on body composition, cardiometabolic markers, and serum levels of the myokines irisin and betatrophin (ANGPTL8) in women with obesity. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups: (1) Diet-only group (control): received a hypocaloric diet prescription without exercise training; (2) WB-EMS + Diet group (intervention): received the same hypocaloric diet plus WB-EMS training sessions conducted twice weekly (20-25 minutes per session) over 8 weeks. Body composition assessments included body weight, BMI, body fat percentage, fat mass, fat-free mass, and waist circumference, measured using multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (InBody 270). Cardiometabolic markers assessed included fasting blood glucose, serum insulin, HOMA-IR, HbA1c, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, and C-reactive protein (CRP). Serum irisin and betatrophin concentrations were measured at baseline and post-intervention using ELISA. The primary aim was to evaluate whether WB-EMS combined with dietary restriction provides additional metabolic and myokine-related benefits beyond those achieved by dietary restriction alone in obese women.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALHypocaloric Diet
An individualized hypocaloric diet with a 500 kcal/day deficit calculated using the Mifflin-St. Jeor equation, prescribed to both study arms for 8 weeks.
WB-EMS training was performed twice per week for 8 weeks, with 20-minute sessions using a full-body electrostimulation suit. Stimulation parameters: frequency 85 Hz, pulse width 350 µs, intermittent mode (4 s on / 4 s off), with simultaneous dynamic exercises.
Sponsors
Firat University
Dicle University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Adult women aged 18-65 years * BMI \>= 30 kg/m2 (obesity) * Sedentary lifestyle (no regular physical activity for the past 6 months) * Willingness to participate and provide written informed consent
Exclusion criteria
* Pregnancy or breastfeeding * Cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders, or implanted pacemaker/defibrillator * Active cancer or ongoing chemotherapy/radiotherapy * Use of medications affecting body weight or metabolic parameters * Prior WB-EMS training experience * Skin conditions contraindicating electrode use
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Body Weight | 8 weeks (baseline to post-intervention) | Changes in body weight (kg) measured by multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analyser (InBody 270) from baseline to post-intervention (8 weeks). |
| Body Mass Index (BMI) | 8 weeks (baseline to post-intervention) | Changes in body mass index (BMI, kg/m²) measured by multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analyser (InBody 270) from baseline to post-intervention (8 weeks). |
| Body Fat Percentage | 8 weeks (baseline to post-intervention) | Changes in body fat percentage (%) measured by multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analyser (InBody 270) from baseline to post-intervention (8 weeks). |
| Fat Mass | 8 weeks (baseline to post-intervention) | Changes in fat mass (kg) measured by multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analyser (InBody 270) from baseline to post-intervention (8 weeks). |
| Fat-Free Mass (Lean Body Mass) | 8 weeks (baseline to post-intervention) | Changes in fat-free mass / lean body mass (kg) measured by multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analyser (InBody 270) from baseline to post-intervention (8 weeks). |
| Waist Circumference | 8 weeks (baseline to post-intervention) | Changes in waist circumference (cm) measured by standard anthropometric tape from baseline to post-intervention (8 weeks). |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Fasting Blood Glucose (FBG) | 8 weeks (baseline to post-intervention) | Changes in fasting blood glucose (mg/dL) measured by standard automated clinical chemistry platform from baseline to post-intervention (8 weeks). |
| Serum Insulin | 8 weeks (baseline to post-intervention) | Changes in serum insulin (µIU/mL) measured by immunoassay platform from baseline to post-intervention (8 weeks). |
| HOMA-IR (Insulin Resistance) | 8 weeks (baseline to post-intervention) | Changes in HOMA-IR (calculated as fasting insulin x fasting glucose / 405) from baseline to post-intervention (8 weeks). |
| Glycated Haemoglobin (HbA1c) | 8 weeks (baseline to post-intervention) | Changes in HbA1c (%) measured by immunoassay platform from baseline to post-intervention (8 weeks). |
| Total Cholesterol (TC) | 8 weeks (baseline to post-intervention) | Changes in total cholesterol (mg/dL) measured by standard automated clinical chemistry platform from baseline to post-intervention (8 weeks). |
| Triglycerides (TG) | 8 weeks (baseline to post-intervention) | Changes in serum triglycerides (mg/dL) measured by standard automated clinical chemistry platform from baseline to post-intervention (8 weeks). |
| LDL Cholesterol (LDL-C) | 8 weeks (baseline to post-intervention) | Changes in LDL cholesterol (mg/dL) measured by standard automated clinical chemistry platform from baseline to post-intervention (8 weeks). |
| HDL Cholesterol (HDL-C) | 8 weeks (baseline to post-intervention) | Changes in HDL cholesterol (mg/dL) measured by standard automated clinical chemistry platform from baseline to post-intervention (8 weeks). |
| C-Reactive Protein (CRP) | 8 weeks (baseline to post-intervention) | Changes in serum C-reactive protein (mg/L) measured by high-sensitivity immunoassay from baseline to post-intervention (8 weeks). |
| Serum Irisin | 8 weeks (baseline to post-intervention) | Changes in serum irisin levels (ng/mL) measured by ELISA from baseline to post-intervention (8 weeks). |
| Serum Betatrophin (ANGPTL8) | 8 weeks (baseline to post-intervention) | Changes in serum betatrophin (ANGPTL8) levels (ng/mL) measured by ELISA from baseline to post-intervention (8 weeks). |
| Systolic Blood Pressure | 8 weeks (baseline to post-intervention) | Changes in systolic blood pressure (mmHg) measured by sphygmomanometer after 10 minutes of rest from baseline to post-intervention (8 weeks). |
| Diastolic Blood Pressure | 8 weeks (baseline to post-intervention) | Changes in diastolic blood pressure (mmHg) measured by sphygmomanometer after 10 minutes of rest from baseline to post-intervention (8 weeks). |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Contacts
STUDY_DIRECTORFazilet Erman, Dr
Firat University
STUDY_DIRECTORFeray Cagiran Yilmaz, Dr
Dicle University
STUDY_DIRECTOREsra Das, Msc
Firat University
Outcome results
None listed