Obesity and diabetes: New study says vibration may be as effective as exercise

Sitting, standing or lying down on a whole-body vibration machine could be as effective as regular exercise in terms of the health benefits. "Taken together, these observations indicate that whole-body vibration recapitulates the effects of exercise on metabolism in type 2 diabetes," they wrote. Whole-body vibration – or WBV – involves transmitting energy into the body. First author Meghan E McGee-Lawrence said: "Our study is the first to show that whole-body vibration may be just as effective as exercise at com batting some of the negative consequences of obesity and diabetes. In a study on mice, scientists found whole-body vibration had similar metabolic benefits as going on a treadmill – a finding that could have implications for humans in the future.

Whole-body vibration could be just as effective as exercise, scientists say

After a 12-week exercise program, the mice in the WBV group underwent 20 minutes of WBV at a frequency of 32 Hz with 0.5g acceleration each day. Study author Meghan McGee-Lawrence said: "Our study is the first to show that whole-body vibration may be just as effective as exercise at combating some of the negative consequences of obesity and diabetes. Whole-body vibration machines may not be one of those hipster fitness gimmicks after all. Both groups were assigned to sedentary, WBV or treadmill exercise conditions. At least, that's what a group of scientists in the US believe.

New study says vibration may be as effective as exercise

Obese mice gained less weight after exercise or WBV than obese mice in the sedentary group, although they remained heavier than normal mice. Exercise and WBV also enhanced muscle mass and insulin sensitivity in the genetically obese mice. "Our study is the first to show that whole-body vibration may be just as effective as exercise at combating some of the negative consequences of obesity and diabetes," said the study's senior author, Meghan McGee-Lawrence of Augusta University. While WBV did not fully address the defects in bone mass of the obese mice, it did increase global bone formation. The genetically obese and diabetic mice showed similar metabolic benefits from both WBV and exercising on the treadmill.


collected by :Lucy William