The Myth About Sweat & Losing Weight

It's a common misconception that the very act of sweating can help you lose weight. Since sweating is sometimes brought about by vigorous exercise, it's falsely lumped together with fitness as a way to cause weight loss. Unfortunately, the water that you lose through sweat is replaced as soon as you drink afterward and has no bearing on your weight whatsoever.

False Claims

The manufacturers and marketers of fad weight loss products like sweatsuits, sauna belts and sweat wraps claim the very act of sweating will help you to lose inches from your body. They use the logic that since a high percentage of your body weight is water, losing water through sweating will help you slim down. Although you may actually weigh or measure less immediately after using one of these products, the results are short-lived, superficial and not an effective way to lose weight.

The Sweaty Truth

The truth is, even if you lose a couple of pounds by using a sweat-inducing product or working out in hotter weather, that weight is regained the minute you replenish your body's reserves by drinking water. There is no way that sweating alone can cause any sort of long-term weight loss, and products or services that claim you can are simply bogus.

Dangers

Not only is causing your body to sweat profusely an ineffective way to lose weight, it can be a dangerous practice. Losing too much of your body's water through sweat can result in side effects like dehydration, which manifests as dizziness, nausea, vomiting, cardiovascular problems and even a loss of electrolytes so severe that it can cause kidney damage. Furthermore, causing excessive sweating can be dangerous for pregnant women and the elderly.

Sweat and Exercise

The only time sweat can be connected to weight loss is through old fashioned exercise. Your body releases sweat as a way to cool your core temperature as you exercise. It's important that you stay hydrated while exercising, drinking at least 4 oz. of water for every 12 minutes of exercise.