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.
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.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
44
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.
Firat University
Elâzığ, Turkey (Türkiye)
Body Weight
Changes in body weight (kg) measured by multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analyser (InBody 270) from baseline to post-intervention (8 weeks).
Time frame: 8 weeks (baseline to post-intervention)
Body Mass Index (BMI)
Changes in body mass index (BMI, kg/m²) measured by multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analyser (InBody 270) from baseline to post-intervention (8 weeks).
Time frame: 8 weeks (baseline to post-intervention)
Body Fat Percentage
Changes in body fat percentage (%) measured by multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analyser (InBody 270) from baseline to post-intervention (8 weeks).
Time frame: 8 weeks (baseline to post-intervention)
Fat Mass
Changes in fat mass (kg) measured by multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analyser (InBody 270) from baseline to post-intervention (8 weeks).
Time frame: 8 weeks (baseline to post-intervention)
Fat-Free Mass (Lean Body Mass)
Changes in fat-free mass / lean body mass (kg) measured by multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analyser (InBody 270) from baseline to post-intervention (8 weeks).
Time frame: 8 weeks (baseline to post-intervention)
Waist Circumference
Changes in waist circumference (cm) measured by standard anthropometric tape from baseline to post-intervention (8 weeks).
Time frame: 8 weeks (baseline to post-intervention)
Fasting Blood Glucose (FBG)
Changes in fasting blood glucose (mg/dL) measured by standard automated clinical chemistry platform from baseline to post-intervention (8 weeks).
Time frame: 8 weeks (baseline to post-intervention)
Serum Insulin
Changes in serum insulin (µIU/mL) measured by immunoassay platform from baseline to post-intervention (8 weeks).
Time frame: 8 weeks (baseline to post-intervention)
HOMA-IR (Insulin Resistance)
Changes in HOMA-IR (calculated as fasting insulin x fasting glucose / 405) from baseline to post-intervention (8 weeks).
Time frame: 8 weeks (baseline to post-intervention)
Glycated Haemoglobin (HbA1c)
Changes in HbA1c (%) measured by immunoassay platform from baseline to post-intervention (8 weeks).
Time frame: 8 weeks (baseline to post-intervention)
Total Cholesterol (TC)
Changes in total cholesterol (mg/dL) measured by standard automated clinical chemistry platform from baseline to post-intervention (8 weeks).
Time frame: 8 weeks (baseline to post-intervention)
Triglycerides (TG)
Changes in serum triglycerides (mg/dL) measured by standard automated clinical chemistry platform from baseline to post-intervention (8 weeks).
Time frame: 8 weeks (baseline to post-intervention)
LDL Cholesterol (LDL-C)
Changes in LDL cholesterol (mg/dL) measured by standard automated clinical chemistry platform from baseline to post-intervention (8 weeks).
Time frame: 8 weeks (baseline to post-intervention)
HDL Cholesterol (HDL-C)
Changes in HDL cholesterol (mg/dL) measured by standard automated clinical chemistry platform from baseline to post-intervention (8 weeks).
Time frame: 8 weeks (baseline to post-intervention)
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
Changes in serum C-reactive protein (mg/L) measured by high-sensitivity immunoassay from baseline to post-intervention (8 weeks).
Time frame: 8 weeks (baseline to post-intervention)
Serum Irisin
Changes in serum irisin levels (ng/mL) measured by ELISA from baseline to post-intervention (8 weeks).
Time frame: 8 weeks (baseline to post-intervention)
Serum Betatrophin (ANGPTL8)
Changes in serum betatrophin (ANGPTL8) levels (ng/mL) measured by ELISA from baseline to post-intervention (8 weeks).
Time frame: 8 weeks (baseline to post-intervention)
Systolic Blood Pressure
Changes in systolic blood pressure (mmHg) measured by sphygmomanometer after 10 minutes of rest from baseline to post-intervention (8 weeks).
Time frame: 8 weeks (baseline to post-intervention)
Diastolic Blood Pressure
Changes in diastolic blood pressure (mmHg) measured by sphygmomanometer after 10 minutes of rest from baseline to post-intervention (8 weeks).
Time frame: 8 weeks (baseline to post-intervention)
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