Effects of Electrical Muscle Stimulation on Waist Circumference in Adults

Background: This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, controlled study was designed to investigate the efficacy of electrical muscle simulation (EMS) for treatment of waist circumference (WC) reduction in abdominal obese adults.

Methods: 60 patients with abdominal obese, man with WC > 90 cm and woman with WC > 80 cm, received EMS as experimental group (EG) or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) as control group (CG) 5 times a week for 12 weeks.

Inclusion criteria

• Subject has abdominal obese seventy subjects between the age 18 and 65 years
• Abdominal obesity was defined as having a waist circumference (WC) >90 cm for men or WC >80 cm for women was defined based on the Asia-Pacific criteria of the International Diabetes Federation.

Exclusion criteria

• pregnant or breastfeeding, had taken any treatment for weight loss or any medication known to affect weight
• had a weight loss of 3% or more in the preceding 3 months, had undergone any major surgery during the 1 year prior to study commencement
• had any inserted metallic materials including a pacemaker.
• aspartate aminotransferase or alanine aminotransferase of 100 mg/dL or more
• serum creatinine of 1.5 mg/dL or more
• a history of coronary arterial disease or cerebrovascular disease, impairment of a major organ system, cancer, severe lung diseases, severe cerebral trauma, uncontrolled hypertension and psychiatric diseases including eating disorder, etc.