J Korean Acad Fam Med.  2003 Nov;24(11):1026-1032.

The Effects of Vibration Baths on Abdominal Fat and Blood Lipid Profile in Obese Women

• Cho YJ
• Choi YS
• Lee YM
• Hong MH
• Moon YL
• Kang YK
• Kim WS

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Abdominal obesity is recognized as an important risk factor of metabolic diseases and atherosclerosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of vibration baths on abdominal fat and blood lipid profiles in obese women.
METHODS
From Apr. to Jun 2000, the 32 obese women received vibration baths for 4 weeks (30 minutes/day, repeated 5 times per week). The people were divided randomly into two groups, the case (n=17) and the control (n=15) group. The case group received vibration baths (55 Hz) and the control group took baths only. Body weight, height, body mass index (BMI), body fat distribution, lipid profiles, and blood pressures were measured in all subjects immediately before and after 4 weeks of the study. The body fat distribution was assessed by CT scan by which both total abdominal and visceral fat areas were measured at the level of the umbilicus.
RESULTS
After 4 weeks, 13 subjects remained in both groups, respectively, and the total abdominal and visceral fat area decreased significantly in the case group compared from those of the control group. There were no significant differences in body weight, body fat mass, serum lipid profiles, and blood pressures before and after the baths in the two groups.
CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that vibration baths is effective in decreasing abdominal fat. But there were no significant weight change, the effect is insufficient in obesity treatment goal.

Keyword

vibrating baths; abdominal total fat area; abdominal visceral fat area

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Fat*
Adipose Tissue
Atherosclerosis
Baths*
Body Fat Distribution
Body Height
Body Weight
Female
Humans
Intra-Abdominal Fat
Metabolic Diseases
Obesity
Obesity, Abdominal
Risk Factors
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Umbilicus
Vibration*