Light Therapy for Weight Loss: Everything You Need To Know

Weight loss is a major goal for many men and women alike. But whether you want to lose five pounds or 50 pounds, the hardest part is knowing where to start.

You can try trendy diet plans, spend a fortune on supplements, join a new gym… or try light therapy.

Yes, in addition to its many other therapeutic applications, light therapy also offers a new and innovative solution to the age-old weight loss plateau.

What Is Light Therapy?

Light therapy, also known as laser therapy or phototherapy, is a type of non-surgical treatment that uses specific wavelengths of light to trigger specific responses within the body. Depending on the purpose and type of light used, phototherapy may encourage healing and regeneration, kill cancerous cells, promote renewed energy, and much more.

A quick Google search will show that light therapy has applications in treating seasonal affective disorder, depression, and skin conditions, just to name a few. Scientists continue to study the potential of light therapy to address other health concerns as well, including weight loss.

The Real Meaning of Weight Loss

We get that weight loss equates to a lower number on the scale, but how many of us really understand the physiological mechanisms that help us lose the weight — and keep it off?

First, it’s important to understand weight gain. Our body weight increases when we consume more energy than we burn. This extra energy accumulates as fat, or adipose tissue, within our bodies. In order to shed the extra weight, the body must tap into fat deposits and burn them for energy.

When your body breaks down fat for energy, carbon dioxide and water are released as byproducts. You exhale the carbon dioxide during breathing, while you eliminate water through sweat and urine. Exercise significantly elevates these activities, which is why physical activity is a cornerstone of sustainable weight loss.

However, for many adults, a healthy diet and consistent exercise routine aren’t enough to completely erase stubborn pockets of fat on the stomach, thighs, hips, arms and other trouble spots. Laser therapy makes it easier to attack and eliminate unwanted fat using targeted treatments.

How To Use Red Light Therapy for Weight Loss

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) uses a low-irradiance laser that emits wavelengths of red light, blue light and infrared light onto the skin. As the light penetrates your skin, it stimulates the underlying cells to open and release excess fat as waste.

Ongoing clinical research suggests promising results for red light therapy weight loss. In one study of 40 men and women, LLLT achieved safe and significant body contouring over the span of eight treatments during a four-week period. Each red light treatment achieved a 0.4 to 0.5 cm girth loss, totaling nearly an inch of girth loss over four weeks.

Based on this research, LLLT can be successfully used for body shaping and contouring, especially in trouble spots that conventional diet and exercise fail to improve. Experts agree that red light therapy weight loss should support the efforts of diet and exercise, not replace them entirely.

The ideal candidate for LLLT is close to his or her ideal weight and wants to lose inches in specific areas of the body to improve appearance and self-confidence. For example, many red light therapy patients choose to target their thighs, waist and stomach.

Red light therapy provides a quick, painless, non-invasive technique to encourage fat loss. For best results, schedule at least two appointments per week for four to six weeks.

The Best Red Light Therapy Weight Loss Products

If you want to enjoy the benefits of red light therapy weight loss without scheduling weekly appointments in a doctor’s office, consider purchasing these cutting-edge red light therapy weight loss products instead.

Belts

What if your own clothing helped you lose weight? Thanks to products like the Fat Burning and Toning Belt, this is actually possible. Red light therapy belts may combine red LED light with electronic muscle stimulation (EMS) technology to break down fat cells, contract your muscles unconsciously, and accelerate fat loss. Wear for just 15 minutes per day to enjoy the cumulative results.

Handheld Devices

There’s a big market for handheld light therapy devices, especially in skincare and weight loss. The Ultrasonic Fat and Cellulite Burner, for example, fights tough fatty areas and tightens skin with just one 20-minute treatment per day.