Battle of the bulge

Can gizmos zap your fat? Do they sustain the weight loss?

March 10, 2010 04:24 pm | Updated 04:24 pm IST

Inch by inch: Follow an exercise routine to sustain the weight loss

Inch by inch: Follow an exercise routine to sustain the weight loss

A quick lowdown on equipment such as vibrators, steam, sauna belts, massagers and the gizmos and gadgets that promise to work off those kilos from your body, with no effort on your part. How effective are they? What's the fine print on these devices?

Can massage chairs and vibration belts actually guarantee a sustainable weight loss?

The answer is no. There is a very good reason why diet books sell more than vibration belts and massage chairs! Diet and exercise are the only proven way to lose weight and sustain the weight loss over a period of time. You have to put in effort to see results. I'm sorry, but that is how the cookie crumbles and the sooner you accept it, the better!

How far do machines act as a substitute to exercise?

Sauna belts, vibration machines and walkers can stimulate blood circulation and induce sweating. When you sweat, you shed your water weight, and this may give an illusion of losing weight. But these machines can NEVER be a substitute for exercise. Regular activity, in the form of cardio workouts, strength and stretching exercises, or yoga, is what you need to shape up.

Why are these products so heavily marketed and advertised? Do they live up to the hype?

If a headline reads, “Lose 10 pounds in 2 weeks” or a television show promises, “A sleek figure in 1 month,” if you purchase certain belts or machines, the offer is tempting. Most of us allow ourselves to get carried away by these sales gimmicks. But when the product doesn't deliver, after a period of great hope and expectation, disillusionment sets in.

Are there any side effects to watch for?

If a machine heats up excessively, it can burn the skin. Incorrect massage techniques, or pressure wrongly applied, can hurt the joints. You therefore need to be careful and keep these factors in mind before attempting to use any massage machine.

Do sauna and steam help in weight loss?

Health professionals have extensively investigated the use of saunas and steam baths in the context of weight loss. What emerges is that the individual will weigh slightly less when their session in the steam or sauna is over. This minor weight loss can be attributed to reduction of water weight in the body. This loss is temporary, for as soon as you eat or drink anything, the fluids in the body are replaced.

Steam versus sauna

Saunas and steam baths can be called sweat baths because both stimulate the sweat glands to produce heavy perspiration. Age-old traditions in sauna and steam are used to relax, detoxify the body and enable better blood circulation.

The sauna uses dry heat and is referred to as a dry hot-air bath. In this system, air is heated up in a cubicle for a specific length of time, allowing the sauna occupant to keep sweating continuously for that given period. For some, particularly for those with respiratory problems, this can become claustrophobic and uncomfortable.

In a steam bath, the heat is moist. The steam bath uses a steam generator to produce a continuous supply of steam. While the sauna has very low humidity, the steam bath has high humidity. In a steam bath, the steam builds up to create a humidity level of around 100 per cent. The difference in temperatures is also significant — a steam bath, because of moisture, retains the heat at 40 degrees centigrade or so. But the dry heat of the sauna can boost the temperature to about 60 degrees centigrade.

(The writer is a certified Clinical Exercise Specialist, Lifestyle and Weight Management Specialist.)

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