Effect of electrical stimulation on abdominal local fat thickness in young healthy women

  Introduction: Despite the high prevalence of obesity, there is no safe and low cost method for losing weight (especially local). Electrical stimulation has been suggested as an efficient method in decreasing the thickness of local fat. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of electrical stimulation on abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness in healthy women.   Materials and Methods: This quasi experimental research was conducted on 30 young healthy women (20 in study group and 10 in control group). In the control group, the abdominal fat thickness was measured without any therapeutic intervention at the beginning and after two weeks. In the experimental group, electrical stimulation to rectus abdominis muscles was applied 10 sessions (at 5 sessions per week) and the subject's abdominal fat thickness was measured at the baseline, and at the end of 2nd week. Comparison has been made across sessions and also between both groups.   Results: In control group, the fat thickness changed from 2.17±.7(cm) at the first session to 2.18 ±.69 (cm) at the end of the 2nd week which was not significant, but in the experimental group there was a significant decrease in fat thickness from 2.59±.74 (cm) at the first session to 2.25 ± .68 (cm) at the end of the 2nd week (P=0.0001).   Conclusion: This work indicated that electrical stimulation in 10 sessions is effective in reduction of abdominal fat thickness in healthy women.