Comparison of the effects of diet therapy, electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) or reformer pilates application on anthropometric measurements

This study aims to contribute to the increasing search for alternative methods in the fight against obesity by comparatively examining the effects of diet therapy, electrical muscle stimulation (EMS), and reformer Pilates on anthropometric measurements. The study was conducted at a private nutrition and counseling center on individuals aged 18–65 with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25.0–29.9 kg/m². In this retrospective study, participants were divided into four groups: three intervention groups and one control group. These groups included those who participated in only one of the following: diet therapy, EMS, or reformer Pilates, and a control group that received no intervention. Each intervention group consisted of individuals who had continued the respective program regularly for at least two months. In the study, individuals' anthropometric measurements were examined three times: before starting the program, at the end of Month 1, and at the end of Month 2. Additionally, existing biochemical data were analyzed, and changes were assessed twice: before and after the intervention. Statistical analyses revealed that the most significant changes occurred in the diet group. Diet therapy resulted in statistically significant decreases in body weight, BMI, body fat percentage, and circumference measurements (p=0.001). EMS therapy demonstrated positive effects on waist circumference, chest circumference, and muscle mass (p=0.001). Reformer Pilates, on the other hand, maintained muscle mass and showed positive results in postural measurements such as abdominal circumference and chest circumference (p=0.001). No significant changes were observed in any parameters in the control group. In conclusion, while diet therapy stands out as the most effective method in terms of anthropometric measurements in combating obesity, exercise-based approaches such as reformer Pilates and EMS have a positive impact on the process. These findings emphasize the need for individualized and multifaceted intervention plans. Keywords: Anthropometry, diet therapy, exercise, electrical muscle stimulation (EMS), obesity, pilates.