The lead author, Soonkyu Chung, associate professor of nutrition at the University of Massachusetts, specifies that his study is particularly aimed at women, who “compared to men, have a higher risk of being obese or overweight, especially after menopause, due to loss of estrogen.”
Thermotherapy, an effective and non-invasive solution to manage weight gain and insulin resistance?
The study is conducted on older female mice, whose ovaries were removed to mimic post-menopausal conditions. To induce weight gain, mice were fed a Western diet containing 45% calories from fat. One group of mice received 30 minutes of daily thermal therapy in a thermal chamber set at 40℃ for 12 weeks while the other group did not receive this treatment. Experience the potential of thermal treatments to, more broadly, promote healthier aging:
- older female mice receiving a daily 30-minute heat treatment gain less weight and better insulin utilization, therefore better glycemic control;
- biological processes responsible for these beneficial effects are identified;
- no tissue damage is observed in the treated mice;
- significantly reduced lactate dehydrogenase levels, suggesting less age-related tissue damage;
- finally, the therapy effectively attenuates weight gain induced by the high-fat diet.
The sauna therefore appears to be a practical and pleasant option.for postmenopausal women with abdominal adiposity and a higher risk of metabolic diseases due to hormonal changes related to menopause.
The researchers note that more research needs to be done to determine the optimal duration and intensity of heat exposure for optimal health benefits and to confirm its safety and effectiveness.
However, therapy which could be combined with other lifestyle measures and maintaining a healthy weight therefore seems effective.
