Quick Overview
A new German university study proves it can. In a randomised trial published in Clinical Interventions in Aging, people using whole body EMS saw blood pressure drop by 9%, waist size shrink and metabolic health improve — all while barely moving.
Women over 70 got dramatic results, but experts say it’s perfect for busy men and women of any age who never have time to exercise. Real science, real hope for everyday life.
✅ Study by: German researchers led by Professor Wolfgang Kemmler at the Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (Germany).
✅ Published in: Clinical Interventions in Aging (18 November 2016).
Tired of promising yourself you’ll start exercising “tomorrow”… only to collapse on the sofa after another long day?
Juggling work, family, chores and endless screen time while your waistline creeps up and you quietly worry about heart problems or diabetes?
What if you could fight those heart and diabetes risks with just 20 minutes once a week — sitting or lying down, no sweat, no gym clothes, and zero exhaustion?
A powerful new study suggests this could be real — and it might be the ultimate solution for busy everyday people who have given up on traditional exercise.
German scientists at the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg studied 75 people with sarcopenic obesity — the hidden condition where you lose muscle and gain dangerous fat at the same time, dramatically raising heart and diabetes risks.
They split them into groups.
Two received whole body EMS (whole-body electromyostimulation) — a high-tech ems system that uses gentle electrical pulses to make up to 18 muscle groups contract hard while you barely move. One group also had a daily protein shake.
The third group did nothing.
After just six months the results were impressive.
Both whole body - EMS groups showed significant improvements in overall metabolic health compared to the no-exercise group.
Blood pressure dropped dramatically — by around 9 per cent in both treatment groups.
Waist measurements shrank in the whole body EMS only group.
“Good” HDL cholesterol improved in the group that also had the protein supplement.
In simple terms: their heart and diabetes risks went down — even though they were only “exercising” for 20 minutes once a week.
The researchers concluded that whole body EMS is “an effective and safe method to prevent cardiometabolic risk factors” for people who are “unable or unwilling to exercise conventionally”.
Professor Wolfgang Kemmler, who led the research, called it a realistic option for millions of everyday people who simply don’t have the time, energy or motivation for long gym sessions.
Here’s why this could change everything for busy adults:
✅ Only 20 minutes a week — less time than your daily commute or evening scroll
✅ You sit or lie down the whole time (many people do it while watching Netflix)
✅ No impact on joints — perfect if you have bad knees, back or hips
✅ High attendance rates — people actually stuck with it and enjoyed it
✅ No serious side effects — extremely safe and well tolerated
In our desk-bound, time-starved world, whole body EMS could be the breakthrough for anyone who knows they should move more but struggles to make it happen.
While the study focused on older adults, the message is loud and clear: if whole body EMS can deliver these results in a high-risk group who barely move, it offers real hope for men and women of all ages who want to protect their heart, manage their weight and lower diabetes risk without overhauling their entire life.
The researchers say whole body EMS is “an appropriate training option for people unable or unwilling to exercise conventionally”.
So could this be the lazy-but-smart way to stay healthier for decades to come?
It certainly looks like it.
Would you try 20 minutes of EMS a week if it could slash your heart and diabetes risks? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
Always speak to your doctor before trying any new treatment.
More EMS Research Scientists Are Studying
- Can EMS reduce fat?
- Can EMS increase calorie burn while sitting?
- Can EMS improve athletic training?
- Can EMS play a role in muscle loss & frailty?
- Can EMS reduce pain?
- EMS vs TENS: What are the differences?
Summary Table: FORMOSA-Sarcopenic Obesity Study (2016)
| # | Key Detail | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Study Title | Impact of whole-body electromyostimulation on cardiometabolic risk factors in older women with sarcopenic obesity |
| 2 | Authors & Year | Wittmann et al., published 18 November 2016 in Clinical Interventions in Aging |
| 3 | Study Design | Randomized controlled trial (RCT) with 3 parallel groups, 6-month duration |
| 4 | Participants | 75 community-dwelling women aged ≥70 years with sarcopenic obesity (low muscle + high fat mass) |
| 5 | Intervention | Whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS): 20 minutes, once per week (85 Hz, 4s on / 4s off) |
| 6 | Groups | 1. WB-EMS only 2. WB-EMS + protein supplement (1.2 g/kg/day) 3. Non-training control group |
| 7 | Primary Outcome | Change in Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) Z-score |
| 8 | Main Results | Significant improvement in MetS Z-score in WB-EMS + protein group vs control; both WB-EMS groups showed clear benefits |
| 9 | Key Secondary Findings | • Blood pressure dropped ~9% in both WB-EMS groups • Waist circumference significantly reduced in WB-EMS group • HDL cholesterol improved in WB-EMS + protein group |
| 10 | Conclusion & Safety | WB-EMS is an effective and safe method to reduce cardiometabolic risk in older women with sarcopenic obesity. Protein supplement did not add significant extra benefit. |
DISCLAIMER
This blog post is for informational and educational purposes only. It summarises one scientific study published in 2016 by Professor Wolfgang Kemmler at Friedrich-Alexander University, Germany.
The results reported (9% blood pressure reduction, waist reduction, improved metabolic health) were observed in a specific group of women aged 70+ with sarcopenic obesity under supervised conditions. Results are not guaranteed and may not apply to other people, age groups, or health conditions.
This is NOT medical advice. Whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) is a regulated medical device in Australia. Always consult your doctor or qualified health professional before starting any new exercise or using any EMS device, especially if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, heart conditions, or any other medical issue.
We make no claims that WB-EMS prevents, treats, cures, or diagnoses any disease. Individual results vary. This post does not constitute an offer to supply or advertise any therapeutic good.
Always read the instructions and follow the directions for use of any device.
The information is based on a single study and does not replace professional medical advice.
