How Many Calories Are Burned in the Sauna?

The health benefits of sauna use theoretically include weight loss, but there have yet to be serious academic studies as to the truth of this claim. Empirical evidence suggests that the increased heart rate experienced in the sauna burns more calories than does a sedentary body in a cooler room, but significant weight loss is probably a function of water lost in sweat.

Significance

• A sauna heats the body, forcing it to work to cool itself. This engages the metabolism, increasing heart rate and circulation in much the same way as physical exercise.

Identification

• There are two types of sauna, both housed in a small, insulated room. In a traditional sauna, rocks are warmed on a heating element that heats the air in the room. In an infrared sauna, radiant heat is produced through use of several infrared heating elements, warming the body in much the same way as the sun (but without exposure to harmful wavelengths.)

Considerations

• There is no 'magic bullet' for weight loss, be it a pill or a sauna. The only way to succeed in weight loss for the long term is to reduce calorie consumption and undertake a program of regular exercise.

Misconceptions

• Different sources (mainly, sauna retailers and manufacturers) make a vast range of claims as to the calorie-burning effectiveness of sauna use, ranging from 50 to 900 calories burned in a half-hour-long session. It's best to speak one-on-one with a doctor about the weight-loss benefits of sauna use.

Misconceptions

• The reason a sauna works to burn calories and detoxify is that it's a harsh environment, and the body is forced to go into overdrive to protect itself. As a result, a doctor's guidance is strongly suggested.

Fun Fact

• Dr. Ward Dean, whose study regarding the benefits of sauna use is widely quoted by sauna purveyors, is also well known for his anti-IRS activism.