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Abstract
Background: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) applied to the T6 dermatome corresponding to gastric afferent pathways has been proposed as a non-invasive adjunct to enhance dietary compliance and promote weight loss. Methodology: A prospective, randomized, parallel-arm controlled trial was conducted. Obese participants (BMI ≥30 kg/m²) were randomized to either: (1) T6 TENS + 1,200 kcal diet (intervention) or (2) 1,200 kcal diet alone (control). TENS was applied for 20 minutes daily over 6 weeks. Primary outcomes included weight loss and dietary adherence. Secondary outcomes included hunger scores, lipid profiles, and metabolic biomarkers.Results: The intervention group (n=10) demonstrated significantly greater weight loss compared to controls (n=10): -7.7 ± 3.9 kg vs -1.7 ± 6.1 kg (p < 0.01). Dietary adherence significantly improved in the TENS group (-1.0 ± 1.1 vs 0.1 ± 0.9, p < 0.05), accompanied by reduced hunger perception (-1.0 ± 1.1 vs 0.2 ± 1.3, p < 0.05). Total cholesterol (-0.6 ± 0.8 mmol/L vs +0.4 ± 0.6 mmol/L, p = 0.01) and C-peptide levels (-1.5 ± 1.6 ng/mL vs +0.4 ± 1.2 ng/mL, p < 0.05) showed significant improvement in the TENS group. Conclusion: These findings support TENS as a safe, non-pharmacological adjunctive therapy for obesity management. Larger, longer-term trials are warranted to confirm efficacy and elucidate mechanisms.