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Infrared Radiant Heat Saunas — a new weight loss option?

Infrared Radiant Heat — Is It A Weight Loss Option?

Infrared radiant heat (IRRH) is a form of radiation that penetrates the outer surface of objects, including human skin. Heat is generated as the infrared energy interacts with and penetrates the skin surface. Penetrating to an estimated depth of 2-3 inches, the infrared radiation releases heat into the surrounding tissue. The release of local heat from the infrared radiation is believed to be therapeutic by some health experts.

Today, a number of businesses sell a form of infrared radiant heat saunas. They claim that at 2-3 inches deep, the release of heat is beneficial in many ways. For instance, chronic wounds heal faster versus conventional treatments

How?No one knows for sure, but it might be related to an increased blood flow to the area around the wound. I believe this theory has merit and may pan out to be true.

However, the link between infrared radiation and weight loss is not so clear. Yes, you will sweat and burn calories while sitting in the sauna. I found the results of a few studies showing you could burn up to 400 calories in one 30 minute sitting.

What does this mean in regards to weight loss?

Depends…are you “burning” fat calories or losing water? Losing fat is the only way to safely lose weight. Volume depletion, essentially water loss from the skin leading to low blood volume, only provides a temporary weight loss, and a dangerous one at that.

I recently read an advertisement claiming weight loss of up to 50 and 60 pounds in 8 months. Let’s look into this and decide for ourselves if weight loss is possible in an infrared radiant heat sauna.

The Sauna Heater

Most infrared (IR) saunas today are steel-coated. Steel coating seems to be an older technology that concentrates the heat source but requires more time to warm up, operates at higher temperatures, and uses a large amount of energy to reach the level necessary for penetrating tissue.

The new IR sauna is ceramic-coated and tends to be more efficient, producing the same heat necessary to penetrate tissue as the steel-coated originals, in half the time. But do the new saunas lead to weight loss? How?

IR and Weight Loss

This is from an ad in the Dallas Voice, a local newspaper.

“Perspiring is part of the complex thermoregulatory process of the body that increases the heart rate, cardiac output, and metabolic rate. The process requires a large amount of energy and reduces excess moisture, salt and subcutaneous fat. Fat becomes water soluble at 110 degrees (F) and the body sweats out fats and toxins.” Dallas Voice, February 12th, 2005

Fat may become water soluble at 110 degrees, but so do you!
Let’s start by reviewing the thermoregulatory process referenced in the ad. We want to find out if IRRH stimulates the thermoregulatory process AND if that alone is enough to cause significant weight loss.

For our purposes, significant weight loss will be defined as FAT LOSS. Remember, a real diet or weight loss program forces your body to utilize stored fat. That’s it. Weight loss by any other mechanism isn’t healthy and should not be considered as an option to lose weight

The Thermoregulatory Process

This is a very complex topic. Many factors are involved in keeping the human body temperature around 37 degrees Celsius (98f). The hypothalamus (part of the brain) regulates the entire process with the exception of initial heat loss mechanisms.

Sweating, rapid breathing, and increased blood flow to the extremities are examples of the early responses that occur as body temperature increases.

The question is can these mechanisms cause weight loss by “burning” fat. Cedric Bryant, chief exercise physiologist for the American Council on Exercise, says no.

“The amount you sweat is indicative of your body’s ability to maintain its normal body temperature. You sweat when your body starts to store heat so you can experience cooling via evaporation of that sweat. So it doesn’t correlate to how much energy, or calories, is being expended. You are not going to utilize stored fat simply by raising body temperature…it’s not going to happen.”

It makes sense too. Fat stores are slow to respond, even when a negative energy balance is achieved. Fat metabolism runs on a long term scale. You will not burn fat in this manner.

What you are burning are carbohydrates. Joe King, writer for the Journal of Hyperplasia Research, said, “Evaporation accounts for increases in total oxygen uptake, which causes the working muscles to utilize more glycogen.” Glycogen is the stored form of glucose, the main carbohydrate used for energy.

A sales representative for a business selling IRRH saunas said, ”
The heart receives a workout similar to a 6-mile run in a 20-30 minute IRRH sauna session and the body perspires the same amount as a 6-mile run. He may be right, but it’s not fat that you’re losing, it’s carbohydrates.

Conclusion

IRRH saunas are not a weight loss option.
Michael A. Smith, MD
Health Science Services

Contributed by:
Michael Smith
©2004, 2005 Michael Smith
Website: Diet Basics

cardiac output, fat calories, increased blood flow, increases the heart rate, infrared radiant heat, IR sauna, losing water, metabolic rate, sauna, saunas, weight loss

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