Low-level laser treatment, often referred to as red light therapy or infrared light, may be a good non-invasive treatment for eliminating fat, which is non-surgical, of course.
It can seem untrue, but proponents of red light treatment say it may have helped remove “stubborn” fat and cellulite that can not be eliminated with diet and exercise alone. However, many professionals in the field of health care are not convinced of its advantages.
Consequently, you may be wondering whether it is worthwhile to give it a go for belly fat, skin, and other issues. So, can red light therapy reduce belly fat?
Read on to learn more!
Can Red Light Therapy Reduce Belly Fat?
Red light treatment for weight loss is highly debatable. Many academics and healthcare professionals are dubious of its alleged advantages despite excellent patient testimonials and outstanding findings from many studies.
However, studies have discovered that red light therapy may help eliminate or reduce stubborn fat.
Some studies on RLT
Red light therapy treatments twice a week resulted in a small 0.8-inch (2 cm) decrease in waist circumference, according to a recent six-week pilot research involving 60 individuals.
Another randomized, double-blind trial including 67 participants found that individuals who had six red light therapy treatments over two weeks lost 3.5 inches (8.9 cm) more weight overall from their belly, hips, and thighs than the control group.
In addition, a two-week trial in 86 individuals at a US clinic found a substantial reduction in waist, hip, and thigh circumference of 1.1 inches (2.8 cm) and 0.8 inches (2 cm), respectively (1.2 inches or 3 cm). However, there was no control group in the research.
The effectiveness of red light therapy on the circumference of the upper arms was compared with a placebo treatment in research involving 40 participants. After two weeks, the red light therapy group’s upper arm circumference significantly decreased by 1.5 inches (3.7 cm), but there were no changes in the control group.
This research and several others seem to point to certain advantages of red light therapy for fat reduction. Red light therapy advantages have been shown in most research; however, there is a lack of consistency across them.
What Is Red Light Therapy’s Mechanism?
Although the exact mechanism of red light therapy is unclear, it seems to operate at the cellular level. For this reason, experts advise scheduling many sessions to get the greatest benefits.
According to one widely accepted idea, the laser makes holes in the fat cells, letting the fat that has been accumulated within flow out. Your body subsequently gets rid of the fat.
So, lasers seem to melt bodily fat, as shown by a (very early) 2002 research study. In a scientific experiment, scientists exposed fat cells to lasers. Eighty percent of the fat cells’ contents were released after four minutes of exposure, and 99% were discharged after six minutes.
Amazing, huh? But the issue with human research is that the outcomes often differ.
The effects on mitochondria
Red light treatment may also have therapeutic effects on mitochondria. These tiny components, which are present within cells, are in charge of generating energy.
The light particles may be absorbed by mitochondria, which causes the mitochondria to produce more adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
All of the cells in your body use ATP as their energy source. Your cells are thus really using more energy. Plus, while in this condition, they may heal any wounds and revitalize themselves.
Although some research is encouraging, there is not a lot of data to back up red light treatment for weight reduction.
However, it does not need any downtime and looks to be very secure. Therefore, it could be worth a try if the notion of swimming nude in red light appeals to you.
The Process of Red Light Treatment
Sessions of red light treatment may take various forms from one facility to the next and may adapt to your individual needs. If you want to get rid of excess weight, rather than concentrating on one problem region, you should get treatments that affect your whole body.
LED light therapy sessions typically run for 20 minutes but may go on for 30 minutes. Since the effects of the treatment build upon one another, you will need to go to the clinic for a total of eight to ten sessions, with a break of one to two weeks between each appointment.
In many practices, you will get a room all to yourself in which you will disrobe, put on a seductive pair of goggles designed to protect your eyes, and have a relaxing session while lying down under panels of red lights set to a comfortable temperature.
A practitioner may additionally enhance the benefits of the treatment in certain regions by moving an LED light-infused wand over the patient’s skin. Since it requires no effort on your part, all you need to do is relax, become warm, and take in as much of the (potential) beneficial effects of the red light as you can.
Can Red Light Therapy Remove Cellulite?
Excess subcutaneous fat, often known as cellulite, refers to fat just below the skin’s surface. Can red light therapy reduce belly fat and cellulite? This is a constant question in many people’s minds.
Indeed it is a tough issue that will not go away easily, and although working out and cutting calories will not necessarily do the trick on their own.
Red light treatment has shown a lot of promise in bringing the issue under control while using some of the best RLT belts. Exercising on a treadmill while exposed to near-infrared light was the focus of one intriguing research investigation on cellulite.
In the research, 20 female participants were split into two groups: one group was given 850 nm NIR light treatment in addition to high-intensity treadmill training, while the other group only utilized treadmills.
The group that participated in both kinds of therapy was successful in reducing cellulite in the buttocks and hip regions. Still, the group that participated in treadmill exercise alone was not.
How Does Red Light Therapy Assist in Dealing With Stretch Marks?
Stretch marks are almost certainly something you have acquired if you have experienced fast weight gain. Even if you reach your goal weight, these scars will not disappear. However, they may become less noticeable with time.
The capacity of your skin to renew itself as healthy rather than scarred skin may be enhanced by using red light therapy.
This is achieved via various methods, including greater synthesis of collagen and elastin, increased microcirculation, and better cellular metabolism, governing the pace at which cells repair themselves.
Conclusion
Red light therapy may aid in weight loss if it is used appropriately. As a component of a healthy routine, it is simple, non-invasive, and risk-free to use at home.
Red light treatment may help you lose fat around your hips, thighs, abdomen, or arms by speeding up your metabolism and reducing the number of inches that you have around those areas.
So, can red light therapy reduce belly fat? Hopefully, we were able to provide you with enough information regarding the question.
It is important to note that weight reduction activities at home in an infrared sauna are among the most successful methods. However, don’t forget to consult with your health professional before trying red light therapy.
Hello! I’m Nicky Rodgers.
Almost a decade ago, I got excited about the idea of employing alternative methods like red light therapy to create a healthier life.
To learn more about it, I did my Certified Light Therapist course from Photonic Therapy Institute and started looking into the intricacies of how light therapy influences several bodily processes. Before I knew it, my interest had become an obsession which resulted in this extensive blog.
Here, I offer countless well-researched articles to help you understand the benefits and uses of light therapy. I hope this information gives you a head start in your wellness journey.