Do Sauna Suits Burn Fat?

Sauna suits cannot burn fat. What they do is make your body extra hot so that you sweat more in an effort to cool down. You might drop a few pounds, but what you have lost will be water that your body will quickly replace as soon as you drink anything.

Description

Sauna suits can be made of different materials, such as PVC or plastic. A crude version of a sauna suit can be made out of a plastic garbage bag and worn inside your clothes. Sauna suits are usually two-piece --- a sweatshirt and sweatpants type of outfit that you can either wear alone or under other clothes. The suits usually look baggy and a little metallic; they come in a range of colors. The price varies greatly depending on the type of material used.

Function

The purpose of sweat is to keep your body cool as the water vapor evaporates off your skin. Wearing a sauna suit is like sealing your entire body except for your head, hands and feet in a plastic bag, which prevents water from evaporating and heat from escaping. In turn, you get hotter and sweat even more. When you take off a sauna suit, the inside will be soaking wet with the water your body has shed.

Uses

The water lost through sweat results in an immediate short-term weight loss. That weight loss can be attractive to people who need to lose a few pounds fast. Wrestlers, who have to meet weight requirements to qualify for matches, occasionally wear sauna suits to drop several pounds before a weigh-in.

The U.S. Army has weight guidelines for soldiers. Continually exceeding the guideline can hurt your advancement opportunities. A survey presented at the American College of Sports Medicine's 2005 Annual Meeting revealed that 55 percent of overweight soldiers surveyed had tried to use a sauna suit to lose weight. The strategy was not effective over the long term. Sauna suits can't melt fat --- their sole function is water loss.

Risks

According to the Weight Control Information Network, sauna suits can cause you to overheat. This increases your risk of heat-related illness such as heat cramps, exhaustion or stroke. Dropping several pounds of water leaves you dehydrated, which can make you feel weak and decrease your ability to perform well in sports. Extreme dehydration can even be life-threatening.

Alternatives

Instead of focusing on short-term solutions to melt fat, understand that it's going to take change and time in order to really lose weight. Health and fitness professionals such as dietitians and personal trainers can provide a support network to help you learn healthy eating and exercise habits. If you are budget-conscious, there are less-expensive support systems, including internet-based training programs.