Transforming Obesity Management among young adult women with Whole-Body EMS
The medical cost of adult obesity in the United States ranges from $147 billion to nearly $210 billion per year, mostly surrounding the treatment of obesity-related diseases. As obesity rages on, emerging technologies offer new hope for effective intervention. We recently talked about Ozempic in a previous blog.
A recent research study looked into the transformative potential of whole-body electrical muscle stimulation as a groundbreaking approach to managing obesity. With its unique ability to simultaneously engage major muscle groups, WB-EMS presents a compelling opportunity to revolutionize conventional strategies and define a new era of comprehensive obesity management.
This research study aimed to investigate the effects of a 12-week whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) training program on physical performance and cardiometabolic markers in young obese females.
Outcomes Measured:
Physical Performance: Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), maximal aerobic speed, jumping performance, and sprint performance.
Body Composition: Body mass index, body fat percentage, skeletal muscle mass, and waist circumference.
Cardiometabolic Markers: Blood pressure (systolic and diastolic), total cholesterol, and plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) levels
Intervention Protocol:
Participants: 28 obese females aged over 18 years with BMI over 30 and body fat over 28%, without underlying health conditions or medication.
Study Design: Two-arm randomized trial with a WB-EMS group and control group.
The WB-EMS group underwent two 20-minute sessions per week for 12 weeks.
EMS Stimulation Parameters: 85Hz using a pulse width of 350μs and a duty cycle of 6 seconds on, 4 seconds off. The participants performed basic exercises targeting 8 major muscle groups doing 2 sets with 8 repetitions each, adjusted for intensity using the Borg CR 10 scale.
The control group performed the same exercises as the WB-EMS group but without electrical stimulation.
As a side note, here at Bodybuzz, we use very similar WB-EMS protocols for our strength-focused sessions.
Key Findings:
Significant improvements were observed in body composition, physical performance, and cardiometabolic markers in the WB-EMS group. The WB-EMS group showed improvements in VO2max, jumping and sprinting performance, body composition indices, blood pressure, and plasma lipid profile. Significant reductions were noted in total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, and CRP levels post-intervention in the WB-EMS group.
No significant changes were observed in the control group for these variables.
Conclusion:
WB-EMS training proved effective in improving body composition, physical performance, and certain cardiometabolic and inflammatory markers in young obese females, suggesting its potential as a supplemental method for obesity management.
Overall, the study underscores the multifaceted benefits of WB-EMS training in addressing obesity and improving overall health outcomes in this population.
The promising results of this study make WB-EMS a holistic approach to obesity management for people that have been otherwise disappointed in a fitness industry often too focused on aesthetic ideals.
If you want to learn more about EMS, book a free consultation with me here: https://calendly.com/conradfitness/30min. You can also make an appointment to book an intro session at our Newport Beach studio.
Conrad
Managing Director
Bodybuzz
Bodybuzz combines Certified Personal Training with Electrical Muscle Stimulation, giving your body a deeper, safer, and more effective workout. 20 minutes twice a week is all it takes!
Our personal trainers will guide you through a custom EMS workout designed specifically for you. Whether you’re looking to build strength, lose weight, get toned, or recover from an injury or illness, we offer a safe, low-impact solution to help get you there.
EMS has now been FDA-cleared for use in the US and we are proud to be one of the first companies to introduce this technology. This full-body workout uses a special muscle stimulating suit that sends low-level impulses to your major muscle groups to trigger muscle contractions. It’s a unique sensation that is painless and invigorating. EMS workouts are designed to achieve optimal conditioning, burn fat, develop strength, build muscle, tighten skin, combat cellulite, jump-start your metabolism, and restore your body’s natural balance.