Experts warn heat-based weight loss trends do not burn fat

A growing trend of heat-based weight loss treatments, such as sand bathing and herbal heat therapy, is being heavily advertised on social media. These services often claim significant weight loss, such as reducing 5kg in just a few sessions, by suggesting that fat is excreted through sweat.

Nutrition experts warn that immediate weight loss following these sessions does not equate to actual fat loss. Dr. Le Thi Huong Giang, Head of the Nutrition Department at 19-8 Hospital, explains that while high temperatures trigger thermoregulation and heavy sweating, the resulting drop in weight is typically due to fluid loss rather than the burning of fat cells. In one reported case, a customer experienced an immediate weight drop after a session, only to have her weight and waist measurements return to previous levels shortly after eating.