Everywhere you look, there are promises of quick fixes for weight loss, from GLP-1 medications to supplements and endless ads on TV and social media. For some people, these treatments work. However, experts estimate that as many as 1 in 5 patients don’t respond well to weight loss drugs.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS, has slowly gained momentum as a treatment for various conditions, but can TMS be used for weight loss? Researchers are starting to explore that question, and early evidence is hopeful.
What is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation?
FDA-approved for depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and smoking cessation, transcranial magnetic stimulation is non-invasive, anesthesia-free treatment that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate certain areas of the brain. While it’s not yet approved for weight loss, early results from various studies on TMS show promise in helping people lose weight.
How Does TMS Work for Weight Loss?
The brain has a significant influence on cravings and how we respond to food. When the pathways that drive reward are overactive and the ones that support self-control are underactive, resisting cravings becomes challenging, leading to conditions like obesity.
TMS stimulates the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain that controls decision-making and impulse control. By activating this area, TMS may help strengthen the brain’s ability to regulate eating habits and reduce compulsive urges.
Gut Bacteria
The brain and the gut are closely connected. People with obesity have fewer types of gut bacteria, which can affect metabolism and inflammation.
In one study, participants received 30-minute TMS sessions 3 times a week for 5 weeks. They were divided into 3 groups: high-frequency TMS, low-frequency TMS, or placebo treatment. The high-frequency group lost the most weight at 4.1 kg on average, compared to 1.9 kg in the low-frequency group and 1.3 kg in the placebo group. The same group also showed healthier changes in gut bacteria, including more anti-inflammatory species present after treatment.
Food Cravings
Cravings are one of the toughest barriers to weight loss. In those who are overweight, the brain reacts strongly to food cues, such as the smell of something cooking or walking past a restaurant. Dieting can make these cravings even worse.
A five-week course of TMS targeted to the prefrontal cortex and insula helped reduce cravings and supported weight loss for up to a year. Researchers believe TMS strengthens the brain’s control systems while settling down the reward pathways tied to cravings. In these trials, participants reported fewer urges and maintained their weight loss beyond the treatment period.
What Are the Benefits of TMS for Weight Loss?
TMS offers several advantages for people looking for weight loss alternatives. Unlike medications, it’s non-invasive and drug-free, which makes it an option for those who can’t tolerate side effects or haven’t seen success with prescription weight loss drugs.
Many anti-obesity medications cause adverse side effects, such as nausea, diarrhea, constipation, or heartburn, and the results often don’t last once the medication is stopped. In fact, studies show that people typically regain about two-thirds of the weight they lost within a year of stopping medication. Within a couple of years, most are back to their starting point. This is because these medications need to be taken long-term to maintain the results.
TMS works differently in that its stimulation of brain regions tied to cravings and self-control may support changes that actually last. Other benefits of TMS for weight loss include:
- No recovery time, unlike bariatric surgery
- Potential to make it easier to keep up with healthier habits like diet and exercise
- Fewer risks and side effects compared to medications and surgical procedures
Research on TMS for Weight Loss
Several studies have found that TMS may support weight loss:
- In one trial, participants who received repetitive TMS (rTMS) lost significantly more weight than the placebo group during a 5-week intervention. Their BMI dropped by about 4.5%, compared to 1.6% in the placebo group. The TMS group continued to lose weight in the years that followed, with an average BMI reduction of 9.5% after 3 years, compared to 3.6% in the placebo group.
- Research comparing TMS to Type 2 diabetes medications (e.g., SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists) found that TMS was more effective for long-term weight loss. This is likely due to its direct effect on appetite control.
- Another study reported a significant decrease in BMI after just 4 weeks of TMS treatment. Participants lost an average of about 1.3 kg on average.
These early findings suggest that TMS isn’t only effective in the short term but may also support sustained weight loss.
Meet Your Weight Loss Goals With TMS
If you’ve tried diet after diet or different medications and still haven’t met your weight loss goals, it may be time to look at your other options. At Cura Behavioral Health, our providers use cutting-edge technology to deliver TMS treatment that’s safe and effective.
When you work with us, we take the time to listen and create a plan that meets your needs. Whether you need TMS, medication management, talk therapy, or a combination, you can count on having a team that’s focused on helping you succeed.
Contact Cura Behavioral Health today to learn more about TMS and how we can build a treatment plan that works for you.
Sources:
- As many as 1 in 5 people won’t lose weight with GLP-1 drugs, experts say – CBS News
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: A New Possibility in Obesity Treatment – The Open Neurology Journal
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: A New Possibility in Obesity Treatment – The Open Neurology Journal
- Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Affects Gut Microbiota Composition in Obesity: Results of Randomized Clinical Trial – International Journal of Molecular Sciences
- What doctors wish patients knew about anti-obesity medication – American Medical Association
- 373-OR: Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation—A Potential Antiobesity Approach for Long-Term Maintenance of Weight Loss Free – Diabetes
- 1717-P: Weight-Loss Differences with SGLT2 inhibitors, GLP-1 Receptor Agonists, and Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity Free – Diabetes
- Efficacy of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) in Inducing Weight Loss among Obese Filipino Patients – Journal of the ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies
