Exclusives
Wooden spas
Nordic baths
Wooden saunas
Douche en bois
Accessories
A hot bath to lose weight: between myth and reality
We had already mentioned another misconception about the ability of saunas to make you lose weight. The same belief is associated with the Nordic bath. Does a hot bath really help you lose weight? Not really. Immersing yourself raises your body temperature, thus increasing energy expenditure, but the effect remains quite modest. Many studies have analyzed this belief to identify links or causality between increased body temperature, calorie expenditure, and weight loss, but the conclusions are quite telling.
Study | Protocol | Result |
|---|---|---|
Faulkner 2017 | 14 men, 1 h at 40 °C | +61 kcal/h vs rest |
Hooper 1999 | 8 diabetics, 30 min, 6 days/week, 3 weeks | −1.7 kg weight loss, not significant (p = 0.08) |
Leicht 2019 | 10 men, 1 h at 39 °C | post-meal blood glucose higher immediately after |
These studies clearly demonstrate the need to beware of shortcuts: the 130 to 140 kcal reported by the press includes resting expenditure; the actual gain is 61 kcal. The real interest lies elsewhere: circulation, relaxation, sleep. It does not make you lose weight, but the Nordic bath has many other benefits.
What these studies do not show:
The reality that 61 kcal represents, or a small apple
A lasting effect: the trials are short and especially male-focused.
Real weight lost: sweat is water, regained by drinking. Combat sports athletes use it precisely before a weigh-in.
If you want to buy a Nordic bath purely for weight loss, this is clearly not the best solution.
How to enjoy a hot bath safely?
To enjoy a hot bath safely, make sure to follow these 4 rules:
Stay between 38 and 40 °C, 15 to 25 minutes.
Remember to hydrate.
Get up slowly (Hooper's patients experienced dizziness).
Combine the hot bath with physical activity.
What about hydrotherapy: a nuanced effect on weight loss?
Hydrotherapy refers to all treatments that use water (immersion, jets, compresses, showers) to act on the body. It is neither "hot" nor "cold" by nature: it plays with temperatures, sometimes alternating them, as in contrasting baths or spa circuits. Heat relaxes muscles, dilates blood vessels and promotes relaxation. Cold stimulates circulation, revitalizes the body, and is the subject of growing interest for its effect on brown fat, a tissue that produces heat. But sometimes, a shortcut is made between this discipline and weight loss.
The benefit of hydrotherapy is indirect. The relaxation it provides reduces stress and promotes better sleep, two factors that influence appetite and snacking cravings. Heat can also facilitate recovery after exercise, thus promoting regular physical activity, and cold is the subject of still preliminary work on energy expenditure. Hydrotherapy can thus support a weight loss approach without being its driving force, and that is the whole nuance.
Want to experience Størvatt?
Discover our Nordic baths made of red cedar, designed and manufactured in the French Alps, or chat with our team to find the model suited to your needs.