Effects of Electrical Muscle Stimulation on Waist Circumference in Adults with Abdominal Obesity: A Randomized, Double-blind, Sham-Controlled Trial

INTRODUCTION: We investigated the effects of electrical muscle stimulationon waist circumference as compared with an identical device providing transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation as control in adults with abdominal obesity. METHODS: This was a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial. Sixty patients with abdominal obesity received electrical muscle stimulation or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation randomly five times a week for 12 weeks. RESULTS: The electrical muscle stimulationgroup achieved a mean 5.2±2.8 cm decrease in waist circumference while the transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation group showed only a 2.9±3.3 cm decrease (P=0.005). About 20 (70.0%) of the electrical muscle stimulation group lost more than 4 cm of waist circumference but that only 8 (33.3%) of the transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation group did so (P=0.008). Furthermore, fasting free fasting acid levels were significantly higher in the electrical muscle stimulation than in the transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulationgroup at week 12 (P=0.006). In the electrical muscle stimulation group, slight decreases in visceral abdominal fat and total abdominal fat areas by computer tomography were observed at 12 weeks, but these decreases were not significant. In addition, patients' self-rated satisfaction scores with this program were significantly higher in the electrical muscle stimulation group. CONCLUSIONS: The 12-week electrical muscle stimulation program modestly reduced waist circumference in abdominally obese adults without side effects.