<p>Wireless Body Area Networks (WBANs) make it possible to handle and monitor patient health data in real-time, making them essential to modern healthcare systems. However, energy efficiency is a major challenge because sensor batteries that are attached to or integrated into the human body are difficult to replace. An innovative low-duty cycle protocol-based energy-efficient clustering method specifically designed for WBANs is presented in this paper. By dynamically modifying the sleep and waking cycles of sensor nodes according to the criticality of the sensor data, the proposed method reduces energy usage for normal monitoring while prioritising the transmission of emergency data. The Energy-Efficient Low Duty Cycle-Based Clustering Algorithm (EELDCA) protocol consists of two main stages: the setup phase for cluster formation and the steady-state phase for data transmission. By using a LEACH protocol to select cluster heads optimally based on remaining energy and proximity to the base station, EELDCA significantly improves the overall energy saving of the network. The proposed technique is simulated in MATLAB on a network of 50 sensor nodes over 2000 rounds and its performance is compared to protocols like M-ATTEMPT and LEACH. According to simulation studies, EELDCA significantly extends the network lifetime (up to 1900 rounds), improves throughput (over 90,000 packets delivered), and reduces energy consumption by up to 30% compared to baseline methods. The algorithm offers improved energy efficiency, throughput, and network lifetime, particularly during emergencies, and enhances the stability and functionality of WBAN systems.</p>