You might have seen individuals running at gyms wearing bulky suits made of rubber or plastic. These suits are forms of sweat suits -- also called sauna suits -- that are designed to force profuse sweating as a means of losing weight. Sweat suits are not considered to be a particularly effective method of losing weight, according to Military.com.
Function
Sweat suits are composed of materials that do not breathe, and therefore do not allow sweat on the body to evaporate or heat to dissipate. As you exercise, this creates a hot and humid atmosphere within your clothing, exacerbating your body's sweating. The release of water from your body lowers your water content, causing you to lose weight, according to Military.com.
Time Frame
Sweat suits are often used for short-term weight loss because the effects are immediate, making them helpful for individuals needing to shed pounds in a matter of hours. Wrestlers have used these suits to lose one or more pounds within hours of a match in order to clear the weight limit. Some individuals also use these suits for long-term weight loss, although any pounds dropped are added on as soon as you drink water.
Expert Insight
These suits have little effect on long-term weight loss. Although short-term weight loss may occur, the process of using a sweat suit actually dehydrates you and brings with it several serious health risks, according to Military.com. Additionally, many wrestling leagues and high school sports associations have enacted hydration tests that will disqualify wrestlers who cut weight through sweat suits, according to a Vanderbilt University website. The NCAA has also banned the use of these suits.
Risks
The risks of using a sweat suit can be extreme. While in the suit, it is possible to suffer from hyperthermia -- excessive heating of the body -- or develop heat stroke from the high temperatures, according to the National Institutes of Health. Dehydration is a major concern both while wearing the sweat suit and afterward, particularly if you remove the sweat suit to participate in a competitive sport such as wrestling. If the warning signs for these conditions are ignored, they could all be fatal.
Considerations
Doctors do not recommend the use of sweat suits under any circumstances. Water weight is essential weight, and the sweat suit does not increase the number of calories burned or fat lost during a workout. You should discourage younger athletes from resorting to sweat suits as a way to drop weight for some sports requiring weigh-ins. Consult a doctor for more effective means of controlling weight without incurring any of the risks of a sweat suit.
Member Comments