During a quick 30-minute walk on a hot day, a 150-pound person could drop one pound of water weight by sweating. Temporary weight loss through sweating reflects a decrease in water weight. Attempts to accelerate weight loss by increasing your normal sweating response by wearing plastic garbage bags during your morning run, sitting in the sauna frequently for longer than recommended periods, wearing sauna suits and belts, or sitting in a hot yoga class only serve to dehydrate the body.
Sweating
Each individual has between two to four million sweat glands, and while women have more sweat glands than men, men tend to sweat more. Sweat prevents the body from overheating from activities, excessive heat or intense emotions in response to perceived threatening situations.
Water Weight
Sweat is mainly water, with only one percent of fat and waste. If your goal is to lose fat, then sweating alone is not going to help you accomplish your target weight loss. The body needs water to survive and though sweating might make you a pound or two lighter after your workout, as soon as you rehydrate that lost water weight is back.
Accelerated Dehydration
Although it is not recommended, sweating can be used to significantly decrease weight for a short period of time. Matt Kroczaleski, a world-class powerlifter, lost 30 pounds in 24 hours. "Cutting weight" is the term used in the world of weight-lifters, wrestlers, bodybuilders and other competitive sports to drastically reduce weight before a competition. If done properly, it is possible to reduce weight without major damage to the body. According to Kroczaleski, "It was all done entirely through sweating to lose the weight and drinking/eating to replenish it." He goes on to state that, "This process is difficult and requires a great deal of desire, discipline and pain tolerance. It's exhausting, very uncomfortable, and certainly not beneficial to your health."
Considerations
Instead of seeking to sweat off the weight, try drinking water for weight loss. Dr. Brenda Davy, in her study, "Water Consumption Increases Weight Loss During a Hypocaloric Diet Intervention in Middle-aged and Older Adults" published in the June 2009 Obesity Journal, found that "water consumption acutely reduces meal energy intake (EI) among middle-aged and older adults" and "when combined with a hypocaloric diet, consuming 500 ml water prior to each main meal leads to greater weight loss than a hypocaloric diet alone in middle-aged and older adults."
Warning
Attempting weight loss by sweating is at best a temporary fix and at worst deadly. Your body's weight is 60 percent water, and water is vital for the organs and systems of the body to function effectively. Hyperthermia and death by dehydration can occur in healthy adults under extreme circumstances. The staff at Mayo Clinic warns that dehydration can cause kidney failure, coma, heat injury, hypovolemic shock, edema on the brain and death.
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