WeightControl.com Interview with:
Jacopo M. Fontana
Ph.D., M. Sc., Ricercartore
Laboratorio di Ricerca in Biomeccanica, Riabilitazione ed Ergonomia
Ospedale San Giuseppe
IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Italy
WeightControl.com: What is the background for this study? Would you describe the treatment?
Response: Whole-body cryostimulation is a physical treatment that involves exposing the entire body to cryogenic temperatures (-110°C to -140°C) for a short period of time (2-3 minutes).
A growing body of work suggests that whole-body cryostimulation could play a role as an adjunctive therapy in various conditions of rehabilitative interest-such as obesity, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, musculoskeletal inflammation, and long COVID-because it may act as a “training method” for the autonomic nervous system, a novel anti-inflammatory and antioxidant treatment with beneficial effects on body composition and adipose tissue.
WeightControl.com: What are the main findings?
Response: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of whole body cryostimulation at two different temperatures, the first defined as “cryogenic” -110°C and the second “non-cryogenic” -55°C, on heart rate variability, body composition, metabolic profile and physical performance in patients with obesity undergoing a multidisciplinary weight management rehabilitation program.
Levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol decreased in both groups, but the decrease was double in the group exposed to -110°C. Activity of the parasympathetic nervous system, the autonomic nervous system that relaxes the body after periods of stress and controls heart rate, blood pressure, digestion and other involuntary responses during periods of rest, increased in both groups, but the increase was greatest in the group exposed to -110°C.
WeightControl.com: What should readers take away from your report?
Response: Our results indicate that whole-body cryostimulation is useful in the treatment of obesity. The temperature of -110°C induced stronger effects on metabolic and hematologic profiles (glucose and lipids), body composition (waist circumference), and vital signs than the temperature of -55°C.
WeightControl.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this work?
Response: Larger controlled studies are needed in the future to define the cryochamber temperature, duration, and frequency of exposure specific to the obesity condition and tailored to maximize benefits for this population.
WeightControl.com: Is there anything else you would like to add? Any disclosures?
Response: The improvements in fats and blood glucose were particularly noticeable, but larger, longer-term studies are needed to confirm these preliminary results.
Citation:
The Effects of Whole-Body Cryostimulation at Two Different Temperatures in Patients with Obesity
abstract PO4.183 at the European Congress on Obesity
https://eco2023.org/docs/eco2023_programme_book.pdf?a=160
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Last Updated on June 12, 2023 by weightcontrol