Vinesh Phogat did sauna for weight loss; here’s how many kilos you can lose in an hour-long session

A 100-gram made all the difference for wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who was disqualified from the Paris Olympics despite leaving no stone unturned, even employing drastic measures, to lose that much weight.

“We had tried all the drastic weight-cut measures through the night including cutting her hair, shortening her clothes. Despite all of this we could not make that 50 kg weight category,” said Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala, chief medical officer of the Indian Contingent in Paris.

Dr Pardiwala further added that wrestlers usually participate in a weight category lesser than their natural weight as it gives them an advantage against less strong opponents. “The process of weight cut before the weigh-in in the morning involves a calculated restriction of food and water. Besides this, the athlete needs to sweat and that is done through sauna and exercise,” Dr Pardiwala said in a press statement.

So, are saunas one of the quickest ways to lose weight? 

Dr Suchismitha Rajamanya, lead consultant and HOD – internal medicine, Aster Whitefield Hospital, Bengaluru said a sauna is a great way to lose weight quickly, but it is important to know how.

“Being in the sauna increases the body temperature. This increases the heart rate, just like when you are moderately exercising. This leads to sweating, which cools the body down naturally. The weight lost in a sauna is mainly water weight, thus it is temporary. You will regain it as soon as you rehydrate,” said Dr Rajamanya.

Sauna helps induce sweat (Source: Freepik)

Typically, saunas are rooms that are heated to a high temperature (usually between 150-200°F) and are equipped with benches for sitting or lying down. “According to some studies, the volume of sweat lost during sauna bathing can range from 0.6 to 1.0 kilograms in an hour. This means that in a one-hour sauna session, one could potentially lose between .5 to 1 kg of weight. However, weight loss can vary based on factors like the temperature and humidity of the sauna and the individual’s sweat rate,” said Dr Mugdha Tapadiya, additional director, internal medicine, Fortis Hospital, Vasant Kunj.

Regular use of saunas assists in the detoxification of the body by flushing toxins out through sweat and also promotes relaxation and improves cardiovascular health. “It also helps muscles recover from workouts too,” said Dr Rajamanya.

However, saunas are not a substitute for exercise or proper dieting, stressed Dr Rajamanya. “Drinking plenty of fluids and knowing your limits is essential to avoid overheating or dehydration. Similarly, saunas can reduce anxiety levels and enhance sleep quality which may generally improve wellbeing,” said Dr Rajamanya.

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