💥 Can EMS Cut 17% Belly Fat in Just 4 Months? 🇳🇱 Dutch Study Reveals Surprising Results in Older Adults With and Without Diabetes

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calendar_today Aug 06, 2025
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🟨 BLOG POST FOR ORIEMS FIT RESEARCH DIGEST 🟨
Easy science. Real studies. No medical advice—just curiosity sparked!

💥 CAN EMS HELP CUT BELLY FAT IN OLDER PEOPLE WITH DIABETES?

🇳🇱 Study From Dutch Clinics May Surprise You
Published in: Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism (2022)
Researchers from: Northwest Clinics, Alkmaar, Netherlands

This post is part of the ORIEMS FIT RESEARCH DIGEST, where we break down the latest science on EMS (Electrical Muscle Stimulation) into super simple Q&A—so anyone, even a 14-year-old or 70-year-old, can follow along.

➡️ At the bottom of this post, you’ll find the original research PDF. You can collect it, fact-check it, or skip our explanation if you'd rather read the full study yourself.

📚 RESEARCH QUICK FACTS

RESEARCH ARTICLE NAME
“Visceral fat loss by whole-body electromyostimulation is attenuated in male and absent in female older Non-Insulin-Dependent diabetes patients”

AUTHORS
Alexander Houdijk, Nanneke Bos, Wouter Verduin, Mick Hijdendaal, Michiel Zwartkruis

COUNTRY & ORGANISATION

Northwest Clinics, Alkmaar, Netherlands
Well-respected clinical center in Europe
Study published in Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, a peer-reviewed medical journal

FUNDED BY
No commercial or government funding. Independent research.

🤔 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Who Did This Research and When?

A team of five Dutch medical researchers led the study in 2018–2019 and published the findings in 2022.

What Is This Study About?

They wanted to test if EMS (Electrical Muscle Stimulation) could reduce visceral fat (fat around organs in the belly) in older people with Type 2 diabetes who don’t use insulin.

Who Was Studied?

45 people with Type 2 diabetes (27 men, 18 women)
30 healthy people for comparison (15 men, 15 women)
Average age: about 63 years
All participants were older, had no other health conditions, and weren’t doing other workouts or diets.

What Kind of EMS Was Used?

Whole-Body EMS (WB-EMS) machine
2 sessions per week, 20 minutes each, for 4 months
Muscles trained: arms, chest, back, abs, buttocks, and thighs
Participants didn’t have to move much—EMS caused muscle contractions passively
EMS was supervised and done at a clinic

What Did the Researchers Measure?

They used DEXA scans to check:

Visceral fat (VAT in cm²)
Total body fat (TFM in kg)
Muscle mass (LBM in kg)

Also:

Blood sugar control (HbA1c, fasting glucose)
Cholesterol and HDL levels

So… What Did They Find?

🎯 1. For healthy older men and women (without diabetes):
✅ Visceral fat dropped by about 17% in just 4 months
✅ Greater fat loss in belly (VAT) than in total body fat
✅ No muscle loss
👉 This means EMS targeted dangerous belly fat very well!

⚠️ 2. For older people WITH diabetes (non-insulin users):

Men with diabetes:
⚠️ Visceral fat only dropped by 7.3%
⚠️ Less than half the effect seen in healthy men
✅ Some improvements in cholesterol and blood sugar (HbA1c ↓ by 3 points)
Women with diabetes:
🚫 No visceral fat loss at all
❌ No improvement in blood sugar or cholesterol

Why Are These Results Interesting?

Because they show that EMS might help reduce harmful belly fat, even without exercise or dieting, especially for healthy older people.

But for people with diabetes, especially postmenopausal women, the EMS effect was much weaker—or didn’t work at all.

What Does That Mean in Simple Terms?

EMS may help older men and women without diabetes lose fat around their organs—this type of fat is linked to high blood pressure and heart problems.
In older men with diabetes, EMS might still help a little, especially with blood sugar and cholesterol.
In older women with diabetes, EMS might not help unless combined with diet or cardio.

Why Does EMS Help with Visceral Fat?

EMS sends signals to muscles that make them contract—just like in exercise—without needing to move. These contractions seem to burn visceral fat faster than subcutaneous (under-skin) fat, likely due to how the body releases fat and hormones differently.

How Might This Help Oriems Fit Users?

If you're:

Healthy and want to target belly fat, EMS might be helpful for your goals
A man with Type 2 diabetes, you might still see some improvements
A woman with Type 2 diabetes, results may vary, and other strategies (like diet or light movement) might need to be added

This research helps you understand what to expect from EMS depending on your age, health, and gender.

🧾 Study Details

Research Paper Original Name
“Visceral fat loss by whole-body electromyostimulation is attenuated in male and absent in female older Non-Insulin-Dependent diabetes patients”

Simplified Title
Does EMS Help Reduce Belly Fat in Older Adults With Diabetes?

Link to Study
https://doi.org/10.1002/edm2.377

This link takes you directly to the publisher’s page. It’s a peer-reviewed journal article from a trusted source (John Wiley & Sons). You can also download the PDF for your own research.

👥 Let’s Talk!

Do you think EMS works best when combined with walking or diet? Leave a comment and let’s discuss!

💛 About ORIEMS FIT RESEARCH DIGEST

We bring you easy-to-read blogs based on real studies. We break down new research into bite-size Q&As so you can get smarter every week.

Our goal is to inspire curiosity—so you can start your own research journey.

🧠 Your learning doesn’t end here. Check out the full paper at the link above, or explore more in our blog series.

🚫 Disclaimer

This blog post is for informational and recreational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment. For full disclaimer, visit:
https://oriems.fit/blogs/research-digest/disclaimer