The use of saunas for weight loss can be a dangerous activity. Saunas certainly can play a role in weight loss if used properly. The immediate weight loss that occurs in a sauna will not last, and saunas should not be the only part of a weight-loss plan.
How a Sauna Works
According to Sauna Kits.com, saunas have been around for hundreds of years and originated in Finland. A sauna uses either wood, gas or electricity to create a dry heat. With temperatures ranging from 140 degrees to 212 degrees Fahrenheit, they are designed to promote heavy perspiration. It is this perspiration that produces health benefits.
Myths
According to AUB Medicine, many people mistakenly believe that saunas can melt the fat off a person much like solid fats that are used in cooking melt. UAB Medicine says that saunas do not hasten fat loss at all. The weight that you lose in a sauna is almost entirely in the form of sweat and electrolytes, and that excessive sweating has no useful purpose in weight loss, according to Military.com.
Benefits
Your body temperature will rise in a sauna, and your body will produce sweat. The rise in body temperature will also cause your body to act like you have a fever and try to fight off viruses and illness causing bacteria. Both of these actions require energy so your caloric expenditure will rise slightly, but not enough for any long-term weight loss, says WeightLossforAll.com.
Increase in Metabolism
A sauna will cause your heart to beat faster in an attempt to cool off your body through the production and evaporation of sweat. According to Dr. Kirstie Leong of Healthmad.com, this increase in caloric expenditure will not be enough to burn fat. The increase in caloric expenditure from a sauna will not replace the calories burned in a workout or cause substantial long term weight loss.
Water Weight Loss
You probably will notice a decrease in your weight after getting out of a sauna. According to Dr. Leong, the weight that is lost while in a sauna is due to the water loss of sweating. While that may be encouraging to some, that weight will return once you begin to rehydrate yourself by drinking and eating. She suggests using a sauna to relax after a tough day at work and stick to exercise to lose weight.
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