Comparing the effect of incremental endurance training with and without electrical muscle stimulation on fat oxidation in sedentary overweight men

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty Sports Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

2 Professor, Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract

Background and Objective: Obesity and overweight are the major public health challenges of the current century. WB-EMS is an emerging technology that can simultaneously activate different muscle groups. A training session with WB-EMS can increase energy expenditure, which can increase fat oxidation. The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of endurance training with and without electrical muscle stimulation on fat oxidation in overweight and sedentary men.
Materials and Methods: 20 young overweight and sedentary men (age range 20-30 years and body mass index 25-30 kg/m2) were purposively selected and performed an incremental protocol on a ergometer until the respiratory exchange ratio reached one. Glycerol levels were determined using serum samples collected before and after the test, and the rate of fat oxidation and maximum fat oxidation were obtained using stoichiometric equations from the data of the gas analyzer. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to assess the normality of the data, the paired t-test was used for intra-group comparisons, and the independent t-test was used for inter-group comparisons.
Results: Fat oxidation was significantly increased in the group with electrical muscle stimulation compared to the group without electrical stimulation (P=0.011). Maximum fat oxidation was significantly different between the two groups with and without electrical stimulation (P=0.045). Glycerol levels were not significantly different between the two groups (P=0.799).
Conclusion: There was a significant difference between endurance training with and without electrical muscle stimulation on fat oxidation in overweight men. Therefore, it seems that electrical stimulation during endurance training can increase fat oxidation in exercise with an ergometer.

Keywords

References

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Daneshvar Medicine
Volume 32, Issue 6 - Serial Number 175
March and April 2025
Pages 29-40

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