Can You Lose Weight In A Steam Room Or Sauna

Shedding water weight has become easier with a steam bath! And while many ask if a sauna is good for losing belly fat, there are many benefits of a steam bath for weight loss.

But no, a steam bath is not a sauna. Sauna is a dry session while a steam bath is wet. Both can, however, aid weight loss, promote relaxation and make you feel pampered (1).

How good is a steam bath for weight loss? How does it aid weight loss? How long should the session last? Get all your questions answered in this post. Continue reading.

Steam Room: Benefits, Risks, And How It Compares To A Sauna

Steam rooms are similar to saunas. They both involve using heat therapy in a small, closed room to lose water weight. The only difference is that a sauna uses dry heat from heated stones, wood, or gas stoves while a steam room uses wet heat from boiling water.

A sauna uses 180° to 195° F heat with low humidity while a steam room uses 100° to 120° F heat with 100% humidity. Both steam and sauna are claimed to help increase circulation and release toxins from the body to aid weight loss (1).

The concept of a sauna originated in Finland approximately 2000 years ago. It was traditionally used as a bathhouse for body cleansing to flush out toxins and dirt.

Reach Your Goal Weight With Infrared Sauna Weight Loss

Steam room therapy is considered to be a great detoxifier (1). Steam opens up your pores, helps in cellulite reduction, and enhances your body’s potential to eliminate toxins through sweat (2), (3). The more you sweat, the more water weight you lose (3).

XThinning of muscle mass due to disuse of muscles and resulting in numbness and a tingling sensation in the limbs. as a result of sauna use is greater in overweight individuals than underweight and normal individuals (5).

However, it is important to note that a one-time sauna or steam session is not effective for losing weight. Following a balanced diet with an exercise regimen and 10-12 sessions of sauna help improve your overall body composition (4).

Can You Lose Weight In A Sauna?

A 1-hour sauna session twice a week for 7 days not only reduces body weight but also increases the metabolic rate by 25%-33% (7).

Using a steam room after exercise helps you sweat a lot, thus releasing more toxins. On the other hand, sitting in a sauna is like walking on a treadmill. The dry heat makes your heart pump harder to circulate more blood, thus creating a cardio effect.

You can choose between a steam room and sauna therapy for weight loss, depending on your comfort and accessibility. Start slowly and spend 10-15 minutes in either one to lose some weight.

Infrared Sauna For Weight Loss & Belly Fat: Does It Work?

You can wear loose-fitting clothes or wrap a cotton towel to absorb sweat and help your skin breathe properly without causing any discomfort.

XA type of converted fat in the blood that is used by the body between meals and may cause heart disease and strokes. level. It also helps improve cholesterol levels to prevent cardiovascular disorders

XA group of diseases that affect the heart and blood vessels and increase the risk of high blood pressure and other diseases. (9), (10).

Should You Use A Sauna Or Steam Room For Weight Loss

Regular sauna therapy increases the heart rate and improves blood circulation, thereby reducing blood pressure. However, further studies are required to elucidate the effects of sauna bathing on the cardiovascular system (11).

XA branch of alternative medicine that uses water to treat pain and various symptoms throughout the body. , dry and wet, are effective in boosting the immune system. Sauna bath increases the number of white blood cells in the body, which stimulates the immune system (12).

A study conducted in Austria found that regular sauna bathing reduces the incidence of the common cold. However, further studies are required to prove this conclusively (13).

Can A Sauna Help You Lose Weight?

XAn autoimmune inflammatory disease where the immune system attacks its own healthy cells, causing inflammation and pain in the joints. and ankylosing spondylitis

Stated that heat therapy is important to loosen joint stiffness and enhance muscle and ligament flexibility. It may also help reduce athletic injuries (15).

Found that whole-body hyperthermia (heat therapy) has the potential to become a safe and rapid-acting antidepressant and stress-relief treatment with long-term therapeutic benefits (16), (17).

The Advantages Of Using A Steam Room

Sauna bathing also relaxes your mind, body, and soul to improve the symptoms of psychiatric disorders like depression, anxiety, and stress (17).

Steam inhalation clears nasal blockages and reduces headaches by promoting respiratory health. A prospective controlled evaluation of steam therapy found it effective in decreasing respiratory distress in people with bronchiolitis

Steam inhalation opens the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity. This helps a person take deep breaths, which provides relief from recurrent sinus symptoms (19).

Steam Room Vs. Sauna: Differences, Health Benefits And More

Though steam rooms and saunas provide many health benefits, they also come with their fair share of risks. Check them out in the next section.

You can opt for both steam and sauna or pick one over the other to meet your quick weight loss goals. Here’s an infographic with the major points of comparison between the two summed up so that you can make up your mind in a jiffy.

The benefits of steam baths for weight loss are well-established. It detoxifies your body by discharging toxins through sweat and also aids in boosting energy. Losing a liter of sweat is equal to losing one kilogram of weight loss. Sauna also has similar benefits, but it uses dry heat instead of wet heat. However, a single session of these baths won’t help much. You need at least 10-12 sessions, coupled with the right diet and frequent exercise, to see significant weight loss. Besides weight loss, these baths also help improve cardiovascular and digestive health, manage hypertension and body detoxification, and stimulate immunity. So, try out the bath of your choice and begin your weight loss journey through a healthy lifestyle.

Does A Steam Room Help You Lose Weight?

You can lose anywhere between 20-40 calories sitting in a steam room for 15 minutes. The number of calories you burn depends on your body weight and lifestyle.

You can only lose water weight, which varies by your body water percentage, in a steam bath. You may lose 0.5-1 kg per session.

Using a steam room every day is not advisable as it may lead to dehydration. Limit this heat therapy to 2-3 times a week.

Does Taking Steam And Sauna Post Workout Help You Lose Weight Faster?

Direct steam may loosen the hair follicles. Thus, it is always better to wear a shower cup before heading to a steam room or sauna.

Steam rooms clear out mucus and nasal blockages. But if you have a severe lung problem, it is better to consult a doctor before heading to a steam room.

Water from your body is expelled during a steam bath. Therefore, it may help remove the excess water in your body that is causing bloating.

Can You Lose 10 Pounds In A Sauna?

Are you trying to decide between a sauna or steam room? This video will help you decide which is right for you and your weight loss journey!

Articles on are backed by verified information from peer-reviewed and academic research papers, reputed organizations, research institutions, and medical associations to ensure accuracy and relevance. Check out our editorial policy for further details.

Dr. Henok Leake Malede has 10 years of experience in naturopathy. He began his career in Atlanta, Georgia and moved to New Orleans, Louisiana after completing his undergraduate studies. He studied at Tulane School of Tropical Medicine and Public Health. He continued his education at Georgia State University, focusing on communicable and non-communicable diseases (hypertension, diabetes, blood pressure, breast cancer, ...more

Saunas & Weight Loss: What The Science Has To Say

Priyanka is a nutritionist and a Certified Diabetes Educator. She has over 8 years of experience in nutrition and dietetics with a strong research background. She is passionate about science and how it can be applied to one’s daily lifestyle. According to her, food is the best medicine, and proper nutrition is key to achieving good health. She has also...more

Believes in credibility and giving our readers access to authentic and evidence-based content. Our stringent editorial guidelines allow us to only cite from reputed research institutions, academic journals, and medically established studies. If you discover any discrepancy in our content, you may contact us.Sauna (sow-nah) or steam bath can help you shed inches off your waist. Sauna for weight loss is a growing trend. This traditional Finnish bath at 150-195° F is proven to aid weight loss (1). Research shows that a sauna can be directly compared to a moderate-intensity workout (2). This means you will work out without moving an inch, relax, and enjoy a beautifying bath. Is not that the dream? Read on to know how sauna aids weight loss, how many calories can sauna burn per session, and precautions to take. Read on to get all the details. Scroll down!

Traditional Finnish saunas typically involve brief exposures of 5 to 20 minutes at temperatures ranging between 80°C–100°C with dry air (10% to 20% humidity), which are alternated with brief periods of exposure to increased humidity. The rise in humidity level is generated by throwing water on heated rocks.

Does Taking A Sauna Help You Lose Weight?

Many people use a sweat room as part of their weight loss regimen, but does the sauna help you lose weight? While there is no quick fix for losing belly fat, some people believe that this practice may help. So, the question on everyone’s