'Far Infra-Red' Saunas.

[littleblackpistol]

Help me out here.

I'm currently engaged in a debate on another forum about 'infra-red saunas' (basically dry-heat saunas) which one poster is claiming help you burn fat and lose weight permanently by burning calories (up to 600 an hour!), rather than temporarily from losing water by the sweating they provoke.

I'm expressed the opionion that the term 'far-infra-red sauna' is just pseudo-scientific advertising bunk and that you need to move to burn calories, but she's now insisting that she read a 'study' saying that sweating in and of itself is equivalent to exercise and can help one lose weight - and again not from water loss. I'm saying that sweating merely helps your body regulate temperature and in itself has no effect on the body's metabolism or ability to burn fat, otherwise all fat people would need to do to lose weight is move somewhere with a hot climate, lie on the sofa and fail to use the air con.

Anyone have anything to add?

 

[Roboramma]

600 kcal/hour by sitting in a sauna?

I don't do much more than that on a bicycle! If this were true people living in hot climates would die of starvation very quickly.

 

[tsg]

but she's now insisting that she read a 'study' saying that sweating in and of itself is equivalent to exercise and can help one lose weight -

My standard response - "Cite, please."

 

[Blank]

Sure going to a sauna might burn up a few calories more than sitting in a comfy temperature room, but the difference is so small that it isn't really worth much in weight loss.

If they really want to burn up calories they should take a cold bath, that should burn fat faster. Just be careful with hypothermia.

 

[rjh01]

The best way to lose weight and enjoy yourself at the same time is to have lots of vigorous sex.