A recent study conducted by researchers in India has explored a novel approach to obesity management using transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on the T6 dermatome, suggesting that this non-invasive technique could potentially reduce appetite and facilitate weight loss in obese individuals.
The study, conducted in the department of Neurosciences in AIIMS, Delhi, enrolled 20 patients with a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 who had previously failed dietary interventions. The intervention consisted of weekly 30-minute TENS sessions applied to the T6 dermatome over a 12-week period. The TENS parameters were set to burst mode, 2.0 Hz frequency, and 300 microseconds width.

The results showed statistically significant reductions in appetite levels, weight, and BMI from pre- to post-intervention (p < 0.001). These effects were maintained at the 8-week follow-up. Notably, the effect size for appetite reduction was large (>1), while the effect sizes for weight and BMI reduction were small (0.14 and 0.16, respectively).
The researchers proposed that the mechanism of action may involve autonomic effects on the stomach via vagal response and altered activity in brain centers related to appetite. They also suggested that TENS stimulation of the T6 dermatome may mimic the satiety signals typically sent by stretch receptors in the stomach after eating.
While the study showed promising results, the authors acknowledged several limitations. The single-arm design made it impossible to differentiate between treatment effects, placebo effects, and natural history. Additionally, the study did not include comprehensive analyses of hunger, desire to eat, and fullness before and after meals, nor did it measure changes in body composition or plasma ghrelin levels.
Despite these limitations, this study presents TENS as a potentially safe, cost-effective, and non-invasive treatment option for obesity that does not require extensive expertise to administer. The researchers suggest that future investigations should aim at designing a simple, portable TENS device that obese individuals could use at home or in the workplace.
Reference
Effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation of T6 Dermatome on Appetite and Weight Reduction in Obese Individuals: A Pilot Study Sahu, Pradeep Kumar; Ranjan, Piyush; Agrawal, Deepak; Singh, Garima
Neurology India 72(3):p 534-539, May–Jun 2024. | DOI: 10.4103/neuroindia.NI_1063_20