Comparison of Whole-Body Electrical Stimulation with Aerobic Exercise on Body Composition and Serum Irisin Level in Overweight Adolescents

Introduction: Obesity stands out as a significant health-related challenge that affects individuals across different age groups.
Objective: The objective of the current study was to investigate the impact of eight weeks of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise combined with whole-body electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) on the levels of irisin hormone, fat-free mass, and body fat percentage in overweight adolescents.
Methods: This research employed a semi-experimental design in terms of methodology and was practical in its aims. A total of 52 overweight teenagers were voluntarily selected and randomly assigned to two groups: one engaging in aerobic exercise with EMS and the other participating in aerobic exercise alone (control group). The study was conducted in three phases: pre-test, intervention, and post-test. During the pre-test phase, body fat percentage and fat-free mass were assessed using a body composition measuring device (model 3, manufactured in South Korea), while irisin levels were determined using the ELISA method. Subsequently, the experimental group underwent eight weeks of EMS combined with aerobic exercise, participating in three sessions each week, while the control group performed only the aerobic exercise regimen.
Results: The results from the analysis of covariance indicated that the combination of whole-body EMS and aerobic exercise significantly improved body composition and increased serum irisin levels in overweight adolescents.
Conclusion: Overall, it appears that incorporating EMS into aerobic exercise serves as an effective adjunct, facilitating improvements in body mass index (BMI) and reductions in body fat through the elevation of irisin levels.