Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41423522›Full record

SynthesisLasers in medical science2025

Low-level laser therapy for reducing body circumferences: a systematic review.

Gotof Abdesalam Mustafa, Yasmeen Fakhri Alawi, Mohamed Salah Kasem, Hajer Eid Mohamed, Raghad Heuotiy, Suha Giselle Ghanem, Mosab Nasef Rizk, Suleman Sofian Suliman, Mark Nabil Saleeb, George Jabrieh and 4 more

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Lasers in medical science, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Gotof Abdesalam MustafaFaculty of medicine, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan.
Yasmeen Fakhri AlawiFaculty of medicine, Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan.
Mohamed Salah KasemFaculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt.
Hajer Eid MohamedFaculty of Medicine for Girls, Alazhar University, Cairo, Egypt.
Raghad HeuotiyJordan University Hospital, Amman, Jordan.
Suha Giselle GhanemFaculty of Medicine, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. GHANEM.SUHA.GISELLE@elearn.umfcluj.ro.
Mosab Nasef RizkMBBCh, Mansoura-Manchester Program for Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
Suleman Sofian SulimanFaculty of Medicine and Surgery, National University-Sudan, Khartoum, Sudan.
Mark Nabil SaleebFaculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.
George JabriehCollege of Medicine and Health Sciences, Palestine Polytechnic University, Hebron, Palestine.
Sana Osama ElhassanFaculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
Mohamed El-Said HamisaFaculty of Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr ash Shaykh, Egypt.
Noura Nabil HassanMBBCh, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
Duha Khaled ArabiatFaculty of medicine, Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLow-level laser therapy (LLLT) is a noninvasive method for decreasing fat without surgery. It functions by breaking down fat cells, resulting in a noticeable reduction in body circumference. This study aimed to assess the effects of LLLT in reducing body circumferences.

methodsA search of four databases (Web of Science, SCOPUS, PubMed, and Cochrane Library) up to September 30, 2025, identified three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that met the inclusion criteria, in which the outcome was the reduction in body circumferences measured by tape. Quality assessment was done using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (RoB2).

resultsThe trials included 160 participants and found that LLLT significantly lowered waist circumference by 2.48 cm compared with 0.635 cm in controls. Follow-up assessments performed 2 weeks post-intervention in two studies confirmed sustained improvements. Moreover, in two studies, hip circumference decreased by 4.09 cm versus 0.86 cm in controls, an effects size of -2.2 cm (mean difference = 2.7 cm). Effect size on waist circumference was - 1.9 cm indicating an average decrease in measurement by1.9 cm (mean difference = 2.5 cm). Reduction was also observed in the abdomen and thigh circumferences. Effect sizes across the RCTs ranged from - 0.4 cm to -8.7 cm (P < 0.05).

conclusionLLLT promises to achieve localized fat reduction with minimal adverse effects and high patient satisfaction. However, varying treatment protocols and follow-up durations make it challenging to determine optimal parameters and long-term efficacy. REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42025645438. 19 September 2025.

Indexed as

Low-Level Light TherapyWaist CircumferenceHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicBody contouringFat reductionLow-level laser therapyNoninvasiveWaist circumference

Identifiers

PMID41423522

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.