Can Sitting in a Sauna Help You Lose Weight?

It can be relaxing to unwind in a sauna after a long, hard day at work. Being able to close your eyes and feel the steam wrap around your body can be the ultimate form of relaxation. But, some people frequent saunas for an entirely different reason. They believe that one of the benefits of using a sauna is weight loss. Is there any truth to this belief? Can relaxing in a sauna really help you lose weight?

The Effects of Using a Sauna

The heat of a sauna can make your heart work faster to pump blood to the skin surface to release excess heat in the form of sweat. Because the heart is pumping faster to keep the body from overheating, it’s commonly believed that a significant number of calories are being expended, similar to what would occur with exercise. Although the heart is working harder to cool down the body, this won’t lead to increased fat breakdown which is the primary goal of using a sauna for weight loss. The metabolic rate may increase slightly to meet the needs of the hard working heart, but it’s unlikely to be significant enough to replace a good workout or cause substantial weight loss.

Why You Weigh Less After Using a Sauna

Although you may find you’re a little lighter when you step on the scale after a using a sauna, what has been primarily lost is water due to sweating. Once you replenish the fluids lost, you’ll see your weight return to its previous level. The only real effect of using a sauna on weight is a temporary loss of fluids without any real change in body fat. You’ll find the time would have been better spent doing a thirty minute session of cardiovascular exercise combined with strength training to start building long term fitness gains.

Why Do Athletes Use Saunas for Weight Loss?

Occasionally, you’ll find athletes use the sauna to help lower their weight before a competition where they need to be in a certain weight class to compete. Again, they may lose a pound or two, but the effect is only temporary and their original weight will be restored once they replenish fluid losses.

What About the Benefits of Using an Infrared Sauna?

Infrared saunas are often promoted as a means of losing weight, advertising that up to five hundred calories can be burned in an hour. In reality, an infrared sauna has no more weight loss benefits than a standard sauna or steam room. Although it’s tempting to believe that using a sauna can lead to weight loss, a regular workout will provide significantly more long term benefits, while building muscle to help boost the metabolism.

The Effects of Using a Sauna: The Bottom Line

Use the sauna for relaxation after a tough day on the job, but stick to physical exercise for losing weight.