WB-EMS and Diet Effects on Body Composition, Cardiometabolic Markers, and Myokines in Obese Women

Effects of an Eight-Week Whole-Body Electromyostimulation and Diet Program on Body Composition, Cardiometabolic Markers, and the Myokines Irisin and Betatrophin in Women With Obesity: A Randomized Controlled Trial

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.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Obesity
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Hypocaloric Diet; Device: Whole-Body Electromyostimulation (WB-EMS)

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.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 44
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Elâzığ, Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Firat University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

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

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Diet Only; Participants received an 8-week individualized hypocaloric diet program only. The diet was prescribed based on the Mifflin-St. Jeor equation with a 500 kcal/day deficit.	Behavioral: Hypocaloric 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.
Experimental: Diet + WB-EMS; Participants received an 8-week individualized hypocaloric diet program combined with whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) training. The diet was prescribed based on the Mifflin-St. Jeor equation with a 500 kcal/day deficit. WB-EMS sessions were performed twice per week for 20 minutes using a full-body electrostimulation suit.	Behavioral: Hypocaloric 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.; Device: Whole-Body Electromyostimulation (WB-EMS); 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.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Body Weight	Changes in body weight (kg) measured by multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analyser (InBody 270) from baseline to post-intervention (8 weeks).	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).	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).	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).	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).	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).	8 weeks (baseline to post-intervention)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
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).	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).	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).	8 weeks (baseline to post-intervention)
Glycated Haemoglobin (HbA1c)	Changes in HbA1c (%) measured by immunoassay platform from baseline to post-intervention (8 weeks).	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).	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).	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).	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).	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).	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).	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).	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).	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).	8 weeks (baseline to post-intervention)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Firat University
• Collaborators: Dicle University
• Investigators: Study Director: Fazilet Erman, Dr, Firat University; Study Director: Feray Cagiran Yilmaz, Dr, Dicle University; Study Director: Esra Das, Msc, Firat University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Actual): March 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 17, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 26, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): June 30, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 30, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 26, 2026
• Last Verified: June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Irisin; Whole-body electromyostimulation; Betatrophin
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nutrition Disorders; Overnutrition; Body Weight; Overweight; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Obesity
• Other Study ID Numbers: FU_MAcik_WB-EMS_2025; 30456 (Other Identifier: Firat Univ. Non-Interventional Research Ethics Comm.)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Individual participant data will not be publicly shared due to institutional privacy policies.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No