Waist & Stomach Gear To Lose Weight

Ab toning belts have become a popular piece of waist gear, and there are various types of ab toning belts on the market. The suggestion that users of the belts will tone their abdominals and lose weight is a common claim by the belts' manufacturers. Infomercials selling these belts often advertise that using an ab toning belt will help you lose abdominal fat and gain muscle, leading to a six-pack without having to perform crunches, sit-ups or other abdominal exercises. The Federal Trade Commission warns consumers of purchasing exercise equipment which promises to help you lose weight and improve your muscular strength and endurance without having to do any exercise.

Benefits of a Stronger Mid-Section

There are many reasons to strengthen your abdominal and core muscles. According to MayoClinic.com, improving your mid-section will help to improve your balance, improve your stability and help to make most day-to-day physical activities easier.

Types of Ab Toning Belts

Electronic muscle stimulation belts send a small electrical charge through a gel pad to the abdominal muscles, causing them to contract and relax repeatedly. This repeated contraction is said to strengthen and tone abdominal muscles.

Vibrating abdominal belts send a vibration through the abdominal muscles. The manufacturers of this type of a belt suggest that the vibration will strengthen the muscle and break apart fat.

Sauna belts cause a person to sweat by sending heat to the midsection. The manufacturers of sauna belts claim that fat breaks up and water retention is reduced when wearing the belt.

Research on Abdominal Toning Belts

In 2004, a University of Wisconsin study, led by John Porcari, tested electronic muscle stimulation devices on several test subjects over eight weeks. The test subjects wore the electronic muscle stimulation devices for 20 to 40 minutes per day, five days a week, for the length of the study. Research by "The Wall Street Journal" found that a distributor of Slendertone sponsored the study. The study concluded that test subjects increased their abdominal strength by 58 percent. It also noted that an average of 1.38 inches was lost off the subjects' waists. There was no significant changes in the control group. Weight loss was not reported for either group.

Warning to Consumers

The Federal Trade Commission has warned consumers of manufacturers' claim that weight loss in the mid-section can be achieved without exercise. In 2009, the Federal Trade Commission charged many abdominal toning belt manufacturers with "false and deceptive" advertising. According to "The Wall Street Journal," $12 million in settlements have been awarded to consumers of abdominal toning belts.