Ab toning belts come in various forms and often claim that users will tone their abdominals and lose weight by using the belt. Because of their ease of use, ab toning belts are user friendly for people of all ages and all fitness levels. The Ab Belt Review suggests that individuals wear ab toning belts 30 minutes per day. MayoClinic.com says developing stronger abdominal muscles will improve stability and balance and make most physical activities easier.
Electronic Muscle Stimulation Belts
These use electronic muscle stimulation to send a small electrical charge through a gel pad to the abdominal muscles, causing them to contract and relax. This repeated contraction is said to help develop more strength and tone. There are several brands of electronic stimulation belts on the market, with varying costs and quality, but the FDA has approved one type of electronic muscle stimulation belt. The Flex Belt is an ab-toning belt that is FDA-approved and comes with a full 60-day money-back guarantee. When purchasing the Flex Belt, users get the abdominal toning belt, four gel pads, a rechargeable battery, carrying case, user's manual and an extension for larger waists. Purchase of this belt comes with a free one-year magazine subscription.
Vibrating Belts
The makers of vibrating abdominal belts suggest that when users wear the belt, the vibration will strengthen the muscle and break apart fat. The validity of this claim has never been clinically tested. The FDA has not approved any vibrating belt.
Sauna Belts
Sauna belts utilize heat to cause a person to sweat around their midsection while wearing the belt. Sauna belt manufacters suggest that the extra heat and sweat causes the fat to break up and helps to reduce water retention in that area. The validity of this claim has never been clinically tested. The FDA has not approved any sauna belts.
Federal Trade Commission's Warning
Federal Trade Commission chairman Timothy Muris took several abdominal toning belt companies to court for "false and deceptive" advertising in 2009. The FTC claimed abdominal toning belts are not as good as traditional exercise and cannot help consumers lose inches and weight as claimed. John Porcari, a University of Wisconsin-La Crosse professor, tested electronic muscle stimulation on several test subjects. Porcari found that the electrical stimulation did not help the test subjects get stronger, lose weight, reduce body fat or get leaner.
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