Regular use of a hot tub has health benefits like helping you relax, recover quicker and get a better night’s sleep, but can it also help you lose weight? While soaking in a hot tub does burn some calories, unfortunately it won’t produce dramatic weight loss and can’t replace physical activity. As a part of a healthy lifestyle, using a hot tub can enhance the effects of diet and exercise though.

Are Hot Tubs Good for Weight Loss? 

The science behind how using a hot tub can aid in weight loss is based on how the body reacts to external heat sources. Heat shock proteins are produced when your body experiences situations like exercise, calorie restriction, or heat/cold. These stressful situations cause damage to your cells, but HSPs act immediately in overdrive to repair those cells by overcompensation. By making too many proteins, your body is then left with a surplus to better endure future stressful events. 

Scientific evidence shows hot tub health benefits from regular use include improvements to your sense of well-being and sleep, better athletic recovery and performance, increased cardiovascular performance and decreased pain, and it simply makes you feel better. As a compliment to physical activity, it’s best to use as much energy as possible during exercise and then enjoy a soak in your tub afterwards. 

When you’re exposed to intense heat or cold, your body works harder and your heart rate increases which boosts your metabolism (the rate at which you burn calories). A study led by Dr. Faulkner at Loughborough University in London found that sitting in hot water for one hour burns 140 calories. Using a hot tub isn’t an efficient way to burn calories, and if you crank up the temperature or stay in longer, it can actually have an adverse effect. Unfortunately spending time in a hot tub can’t replace things like diet and physical activity, but there are benefits that can support weight loss and maintenance. 

How a Hot Tub Can Support a Weight Loss Plan

Regular physical activity is a critical component to a successful weight loss journey. Soaking in a hot tub after your workout further boosts heat shock proteins and helps prepare you for the recovery process. Heat increases circulation and blood flow to sore and injured areas, decreases inflammation and stiffness and promotes healing. For those who struggle to exercise due to chronic pain from conditions like arthritis, hot tubs may provide temporary relief from that discomfort, improve range of motion and make it easier to sleep, exercise and stay active.

Stress can wreak havoc on your body in many ways including increased levels of cortisol or “stress hormones”.  The adverse impact of high cortisol levels are well-documented and include: an increased fat storage response and weight gain, overeating or “stress response eating”, difficulty building new muscle and decreased recovery rates. Self-care practices like relaxing in a hot tub can help improve both your physical and mental health. With an outdoor hot tub, you’ll also enjoy the added benefits of fresh air and time in nature, which has also been found to reduce stress levels.

Many people struggle to fall and stay asleep at night. A study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests the effect of poor sleep is not just physiological, but also behavioral; the study found that, on average, sleep-deprived individuals ate 300 more calories per day than individuals who consistently got a good night’s sleep. A soak in a hot tub is very relaxing, which helps reduce stress and can also improve your quality of sleep which is essential for overall health and weight management. 

If you’re ready to add a hot tub to your home self-care routine, we can help you find the perfect one, give us a call at 970-879-4391 or contact us here.