Does Red Light Therapy Work for Weight Loss? The Studies
Have you ever heard of combining red light therapy with vibration to accelerate fat loss?
Light therapy releases the fat cell contents into the lymph system, while vibration moves the fat out, avoiding reabsorption.
Takeaways
- Studies show that red light therapy can reduce thigh and stomach circumference.
- The theory that is not yet well supported is that the therapy causes fat cells to drop their contents.
- To increase your chances of success, fast two hours before therapy and use a vibration machine or exercise afterward.
- The purpose is not to burn calories but to move the loose fat to the lymph system for disposal.
- Nushape invented the Lipo Wrap, the first red light therapy lap for targeted weight loss.
The mechanisms of fat loss are:
- Increasing ATP production
- Speeding the rate of metabolism using that ATP, leading to a greater calorie burn
- Reducing inflammation that blocks fat loss. Reducing inflammation improves insulin sensitivity and regulates glucose levels.
- Reducing stress promotes relaxation and sleep and sets the stage for fat loss.
- Releasing fat from cells is not as well supported as the items above.
What is Red Light Therapy for Weight Loss?
How to Do Red Light Therapy for Weight Loss
“Lipo Wraps”
What is the difference between a red light therapy wrap and a “lipo wrap”?
Comparing a Mito Therapy Belt with the Nushape Lipo Wrap, for example, how do they compare?
While the construction quality and number of LEDs per device differ, the fat-burning action is the same.
Nushape pioneered the idea of a fat-burning red light therapy device.
The Mito Therapy Belt is the same technology they sell for muscle recovery and pain relief.
Extracting fat-burning capabilities from either of these devices requires your active participation in following a set of steps.
If you follow those steps with either device, you should see some fat loss results.
How Long Per Session?
Research and anecdotal evidence suggest that even short sessions – such as 10-15 minutes daily – can be practical.
One of the most commonly asked questions about red light therapy for fat loss is how long you need to expose yourself to the light for it to be effective.
Ten minutes of red light therapy will only help with fat loss if you’re using a solid therapy device, which is much more robust than most red light therapy devices available for at-home use.
One study published in Pubmed found that individuals who underwent red light therapy treatments with an infrared body belt for just 15 minutes per session lost an average of 5.17 cm from their waist circumference after four weeks.
Of course, it’s important to note that everyone’s body is different, and results may vary depending on age, weight, and overall health.
However, red light therapy can be effective for fat loss when used consistently and according to instructions. If you’re wondering whether just 10 minutes of red light therapy can help with weight loss, the answer is yes.
Kim Kardashian has claimed that she uses a Nushape Lipo Wrap with red light technology for 20-30 minutes daily to help maintain her figure.
Additionally, before-and-after photos from various online users often show significant reductions in body fat after consistently using red light therapy machines or clinic sessions.
Protocol
Red light therapy changes the rules of spot reduction.
Spas and plastic surgeons use the technology for spot fat removal.
Now, it’s available for home use without a prescription.
If you’re here to see the red light therapy device that stars in the fat loss space, go to my guide to the Nushape Lipo Wrap now.
Every fitness instructor says you can’t spot reduce, but clinicians know better.
Red light flushes fat by poking microscopic holes in fat cells.
Whether belly fat, thigh fat, or hip fat, the light does spot reduction on areas treated.
There are two “gotchas,” and they’re not small.
- First, you need to get the right amount of light energy. Too little or too much light energy will leave the fat right where it started.
- Second, you need to move after treatment. You can do this on a vibration machine or through actual exercise.
You do not need to “burn” the fat. The fat has poured from the cell into the space between the cells.
Movement edges it into the lymph system and then out of the body. Without movement, the fat reabsorbs into the fat cells.
Light lets fat out of the cells.
The catch is that some studies show it reabsorbed. It’s not a question of burning the fat with exercise but of moving it out of the intercellular space for disposal.
Clinicians offering red light fat reduction offer vibration machines just for this purpose.
The Planet Fitness red light booth includes vibration, for example.
The Contour Light Body Sculpting procedure consists of 10 minutes of whole-body vibration after the procedure.
Contour Light is an FDA-cleared red light therapy for reducing waist, thigh, and hip.
It’s pretty much the model for your home therapy. This is what they advise their clinicians to tell their clients.
- Do ten sessions in 3 weeks.
- Do periodic tune-ups
- Drink water after treatment.
- Use the vibration place or exercise after treatment; a walk is sufficient, but interval exercise is best.
- Avoid heavy meals before and after treatment
- Limit caffeine and alcohol
Safety and Side Effects
While red light and vibration therapy are generally safe, some precautions and potential risks should be considered.
Red light therapy is considered safe for most individuals.
However, it is not recommended for individuals with certain conditions, such as epilepsy or active skin infections.
Protecting the eyes from direct exposure to very bright light is also vital. While red light therapy is good for the eyes, bright light is not. Do not stare at the light therapy device.
Individuals with certain health conditions, such as deep vein thrombosis, fractures, or recent surgeries, should avoid vibration therapy.
Pregnant women should consult with their healthcare provider before undergoing vibration therapy.
Troubleshooting
If you don’t see results within three sessions, troubleshoot to find out why.
You need at least 3.6 joules per sq. cm. of photon energy to release the maximum amount of fat. 2.3 joules worked in one study, but at a lesser rate. You might not be getting enough light per treatment. Add ten minutes to your treatment times.
You might not be flushing the released fat. Avoid heavy meals, caffeine, and alcohol. Exercise after treatment to flush the fat out of the intercellular space. Red light can reduce belly fat, and it’s up to you to flush it out of your system.
Add Vibration to Ensure Success
Red light therapy has been used in various medical treatments, and vibration therapy has been shown to benefit muscles.
A recent study evaluated the application of red light therapy and vibration therapy for reducing circumference in patients with localized adiposity (fat) and cellulite.
In other words, using red light therapy for fat loss.
The study included men and women with localized adiposity or fibrous cellulite, and they underwent various evaluations to measure fat thickness and other parameters.
The results showed a significant reduction in fat thickness after the treatment.
In another study, low-level laser therapy was used as a noninvasive method for reducing upper arm circumference.
The results were impressive, with the laser therapy group showing a much more significant reduction in arm circumference than the sham treatment group.
Another study examined the effectiveness of low-level laser therapy for body contouring and spot fat reduction.
The results showed that laser treatment significantly reduced waist girth after four weeks of treatment.
In vitro studies also suggested that laser treatment increases adipocyte fat loss without inducing lipolysis or cell lysis.
These findings indicate that low-level laser therapy can be a safe and effective method for reducing fat and improving body contour.
It’s fascinating to see how these treatments can target localized adiposity and cellulite; the results are worth considering.
So, if you’re looking for a non-invasive and effective way to reduce fat and improve your body shape, this might be something worth exploring.
Red light therapy, low-level laser therapy, or photobiomodulation involves skin exposure to low-energy red and near-infrared light.
This light is emitted from LED or laser devices and has been found to have various beneficial effects on the body, particularly at the cellular level.
The red and near-infrared light used in red light therapy penetrate the skin and are absorbed by the mitochondria, the cell’s powerhouse.
This absorption leads to an increase in cellular energy production, which allows for various physiological processes to occur more efficiently.
Red light therapy also has anti-inflammatory effects and promotes the release of nitric oxide, a molecule that improves blood flow and enhances tissue healing.
What is Vibration Therapy?
Vibration therapy involves the use of mechanical vibrations to stimulate muscle contractions.
This therapy can be applied using specialized equipment such as vibrating platforms or handheld devices.
Vibration therapy has gained popularity recently due to its potential benefits for muscle strength, bone density, and overall health.
Benefits
Vibration therapy offers several benefits for the body.
- It has been shown to improve muscle strength and flexibility, enhance balance and coordination, and increase bone density.
- Vibration therapy can also improve circulation, stimulate lymphatic flow, and promote relaxation.
- Additionally, this therapy has been utilized in weight loss programs due to its potential to enhance fat burning and metabolism.
Application in Fat Loss
Vibration therapy has gained attention as a potential tool for accelerating fat loss.
The mechanical vibrations generated during vibration therapy can increase muscle contractions and metabolic rate, leading to an increased calorie burn.
This therapy can be used as a supplement to exercise and diet to enhance weight loss results.
Combining Red Light Therapy with Vibration
The combination of red light and vibration therapy is based on the rationale that these two therapies have complementary effects on the body.
Red light therapy enhances cellular energy production and promotes healing, while vibration therapy stimulates muscle contractions and metabolic rate.
By combining these therapies, it is hypothesized that the effects of each treatment can be amplified, leading to accelerated fat loss.
Synergistic Effects
Research studies have shown that combining red light therapy and vibration therapy can synergistically affect fat loss.
The simultaneous application of these therapies can stimulate cellular energy production, improve blood flow, enhance muscle contractions, and increase muscle metabolism.
These combined effects can lead to more significant calorie expenditure and fat burning, ultimately resulting in accelerated fat loss.
Other Ways Red Light Therapy Helps Weight Loss
Sleep
Lack of sleep and increased stress correlate with an inability to lose weight.
Red light therapy promotes good sleep and relaxation.
Stress can lead to emotional eating, so lowering stress helps stop excess calorie intake.
The therapy’s calming effect makes it easier to weather storms without turning to food to regulate emotions.
Poor sleep blocks fat loss. Too.
The body uses the sleep cycle to clean out toxins and repair cells.
So you’re more toxic when you don’t get enough sleep.
Feeling “crappy” can lead to excess comfort eating.
Plus, the body can confuse a need for sleep with the feeling of hunger.
Tired people think they’re hungrier than people who get rest.
Red light therapy helps the body calm down, helps the mind fall asleep, and prevents excess eating due to poor sleep and stress.
Chronic Inflammation
Red light therapy can help to reduce inflammation in the body.
Chronic inflammation has been linked to weight gain and obesity, as it can interfere with the body’s ability to regulate insulin and glucose levels.
Red light therapy has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects. It can help improve insulin sensitivity and glucose regulation, leading to weight loss.
So long as there is glucose in the blood, the pancreas secrete insulin to decrease levels. Insulin is the “fat storage” hormone.
When insulin is about, no fat is lost.
Getting rid of insulin is essential to losing fat.
Cellulite
Cellulite is a common concern among women, and many have tried various methods to reduce or eliminate it.
But can red light therapy help with cellulite? According to some studies, the answer is yes.
Red light therapy can help reduce the appearance of cellulite by increasing circulation and collagen production.
Collagen is essential for maintaining the elasticity and firmness of the skin, which can help reduce the dimpling effect that cellulite causes.
One study published in Photomedicine and Laser Surgery found that red light therapy combined with massage effectively reduced thigh circumference and improved skin texture in women with cellulite.
Another study published in Lasers in Medical Science found that red light therapy improved skin texture and reduced thigh circumference after four weeks of treatment.
But how does red light therapy work on cellulite specifically? The infrared wavelengths used in red light therapy penetrate deep into the skin, stimulating fat cells to release their contents.
This process, known as lipolysis, causes fat cells to shrink, which can help reduce the appearance of cellulite.
While red light therapy may not be a magic bullet for eliminating cellulite, it can help improve its appearance.
It’s important to note that results may vary depending on age, body weight, skin type, and lifestyle habits such as diet and exercise.
Overall, incorporating red light therapy into a comprehensive approach to weight loss and healthy living may be beneficial for reducing cellulite.
Whether using an infrared body belt or getting professional treatments at a spa or clinic like Kim Kardashian reportedly does with her Nushape Lipo Wrap sessions—red light therapy for fat loss at home could be what you need to take your self-care routine up a notch.
To see before-and-after photos or results from people who use this technique daily and other products suitable for weight loss, check out online forums or PubMed articles on these topics.
Calories
Studies suggest you can expect to burn 150-200 calories per 30-minute session.
The amount of calories you burn during a red light therapy session will depend on several factors, such as your age, weight, sex, and the duration of the session itself.
However, research suggests that red light therapy may help weight loss by increasing metabolism and promoting fat burning.
According to PubMed, red light therapy has been found to increase metabolism in both animals and humans.
This means it can help your body burn more calories after your session.
In addition, some studies have shown that red light therapy can stimulate fat cells, causing them to release their contents and burn more fat.
While 150 calories might not seem significant at first glance, it’s important to remember that every little bit counts when it comes to weight loss.
If you were to do a 30-minute session every day for a week, for example, you could expect to burn around 1,050-1,400 extra calories over the week.
Of course, it’s important to remember that red light therapy alone is not enough to cause significant weight loss.
To see results from this therapy for fat loss at home or elsewhere, it should be combined with other healthy lifestyle choices like regular exercise and a balanced diet.
Weight Loss Studies
Several research studies have investigated the potential of combining red light therapy with vibration therapy for fat loss and body contouring.
Here, we will discuss three notable studies and their findings.
Fat Flushing Study I
Red light reduced belly fat in a “fat flushing” study published in Obesity Surgery. The red light therapy removed 8/10ths of an inch off subjects’ waistlines. Clinicians treated the subjects two times per week for 30 minutes per session.
Both 635 nm and 680 nm were effective in reducing belly fat. No diet or exercise was required for fat loss.
However, after treatment, the lost inches started to come back. The subjects did not move, and some fat cell contents were reabsorbed.
In the follow-up, 8% of the fat had returned.
Fat Flushing Study II
According to a study published in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, red light therapy removed 3.51 inches across the waist, hips, and thighs.
Clinicians treated subjects with 635 nm red light thrice weekly for two weeks.
Subjects lost an average of almost an inch of belly fat, more than an inch from the hips and over half an inch from each thigh.
This study also supports the theory that you can flush fat out of cells without diet or exercise.
Without a follow-up, however, we don’t know if subjects kept the fat off.
Then again, if the results were similar to those in the study above, an 8% re-gain is not that shabby.
Fat Loss and Cellulite Study
In a study published in the Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, researchers evaluated the application of low-level laser therapy and vibration therapy for the non-invasive reduction of circumference in patients with localized adiposity and cellulite.
The study included men and women with localized adiposity or fibrous cellulite.
Various evaluation parameters, including photographic evaluation, perimetric evaluation, blood tests, and subjective and objective tests, were used to assess the results.
The study concluded that the combination of low-level laser therapy and vibration therapy significantly reduced fat thickness and resolved localized adiposity and cellulite.
Upper Arm Circumference Study
Another study published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology investigated the safety and efficacy of low-level laser therapy for reducing upper arm circumference.
The study included healthy subjects with a body mass index within a specified range.
Subjects received low-level laser therapy treatments or sham treatments over two weeks.
Measurements of upper arm circumference were taken at various time points.
The study found that the low-level laser therapy group significantly reduced arm circumference compared to the sham treatment group.
The treatments were painless, and no adverse events were reported.
Body Contouring and Spot Reduction Study
A study published in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine examined the effectiveness and mechanism of low-level laser therapy as a noninvasive intervention for body contouring and spot fat reduction.
The study included healthy men and women, and the standardized waist circumference measurements and photographs were taken before and after treatments.
In vitro assays were also conducted to assess cell lysis, glycerol, and triglyceride release.
The results showed a significant girth loss from the waist after the low-level laser therapy treatments.
The study concluded that low-level laser therapy is safe and effective in achieving sustained girth loss and cosmetic improvement.
The Empty Grapes Study
In a study published in Plastic Reconstruction Surgery, researchers tested red light on fat removed during lipectomies (fat removal surgeries).
They took fat samples from twelve women during their respective surgeries. Using a ten mW (low-power) laser outputting 635 nm red light, they tested the light’s effects on the fat.
They used four testing parameters of 0, 2, 4, and 6 minutes of treatment. The zero-minute sample was the control.
The 2-, 4-, and 6-minute treatments corresponded to 1.2 J/cm2, 2.4 J/cm2, and 3.6 J/cm2 photon deliveries, respectively.
They examined the fat under scanning electron microscopes. The cells released 80% of their contents within four minutes of treatment.
The treatment created microscopic holes in the cell walls, and fat poured through the holes into the space between the cells.
- 2 J/cm^2 released the least amount of fat (80%)
- 6 J/cm^2 released the most amount of fat (99%)
The most effective treatment was ten mW for 6 minutes, delivering 3.6 J/cm^2 of 635 nm light.
The researchers noted that the treated cells looked like deflated grapes. The cell membranes shriveled like emptied balloons.
3.51 Inch Reduction Study
A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was conducted on 67 volunteers with a body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 30 kg/m.
The participants were divided into two groups, one receiving low-level laser treatments and the other receiving a sham treatment for two weeks.
The results showed that the participants in the treatment group experienced an overall reduction in total circumference across all three sites of -3.51 inches. At the same time, the control subjects only had a decrease of -0.684 inches.
Some lost as much as 6 inches.
These findings suggest that lipo wraps may indeed have a positive impact on fat loss and weight loss.
Fat, Insulin and Inflammation Study
A study conducted on 49 obese women with a BMI of 30-40 kg/m2 examined the effectiveness of lipo wraps.
The women were divided into two groups: one received lipo wraps with exercise training and phototherapy applications post-exercise, and the other received exercise training only.
Over 4 months, with three sessions per week, the results showed that only the group receiving phototherapy applications showed a reduction in interleukin-6 levels and an increase in WNT5 signaling.
Additionally, the group that received phototherapy experienced a greater change in fat mass, insulin, HOMA-IR, and FGF-21 variables.
Based on these findings, it can be concluded that lipo wraps, along with exercise training and phototherapy applications, may have some effect on fat loss and weight loss.
Lost Belly Fat Study
Scientists tested red and near-infrared therapy in a study published in Obesity Surgery.
They treated subjects two times per week with two red wavelengths of light.
They placed the red light devices over the belly of each subject.
After two weeks, the subjects had lost an average of 8/10ths of an inch off their waistlines.
The subjects did no exercise or special dieting.
However, when they tested the subjects again, the lost 8/10th of an inch had started to return.
In the follow-up, 8% of the fat had returned to the subjects’ bellies.
So what happened? This study did not use a vibration plate after red light therapy.
They found that red light does release fat, but some form of movement is necessary to flush the fat from the body.
Conclusion
Combining red light therapy with vibration therapy can provide a synergistic approach to accelerating fat loss.
Red light therapy offers a range of benefits for skin health, wound healing, pain relief, and muscle recovery, while vibration therapy enhances muscle strength, bone density, and overall health.
When used together, these therapies can amplify their effects, leading to accelerated fat loss.
Research studies have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of this combination for body contouring and spot fat reduction.
The question “Does red light therapy work for fat loss?” is complex to answer definitively.
While some clinical studies suggest it may help with weight loss and body sculpting, more research is needed to confirm this.
However, many people who have tried red light therapy for fat loss claim positive results.
Many success stories exist, from before and after photos to personal testimonials on social media.
Celebrities like Kim Kardashian have even endorsed infrared body belts and Nushape Lipo Wraps as effective tools in their weight loss journeys.
If you’re interested in trying red light therapy for fat loss at home, make sure to do your research on reputable products and consult with a healthcare professional if you have any concerns.
It’s also important to remember that while red light therapy may help weight loss with a healthy diet and exercise regimen, it’s not a magic solution or a substitute for good habits.
While we may not have all the answers about the science behind how red light therapy can cause fat loss or reduce cellulite, it’s worth exploring as an additional tool in our wellness toolbox.
Whether you use it every day or just occasionally as part of your routine, incorporating red light therapy into your life could be one small step toward feeling better in your skin.
References
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