Do Hot Tubs Burn Calories?
The Truth About Hot Bath Weight Loss

According to science, there’s excellent news for bathers who’ve been wondering:

Can hot tubs help you lose weight?
Does sitting in a hot tub burn calories?
How many calories does a hot tub burn?

It turns out that a one-hour hot bath can burn the same number of calories (140) as a 30-minute walk, according to a 2017 study led by Dr. Faulkner at Loughborough University in London. One of the aims of the study was to determine the number of calories burned in a hot tub. So, if you want to shed a few extra pounds yet don’t always have the energy to exercise at the end of a long day, there’s an affirmative answer to the long asked question, ‘can a hot tub help you lose weight?’

Hot bath weight loss is an excellent option to implement a couple of nights a week, in lieu of the exercise regimen you can’t always adhere to. You can also use it in conjunction with exercise to burn additional calories.

In fact, the same study found hot bathing has a better effect on blood sugar levels than bicycling, by 10%. The study also concluded that hot bathing improves the body’s anti-inflammatory response, similar to the effect of exercise.

So how does sitting in a hot tub burn calories? There’s actually a logical scientific explanation. The body’s temperature rises above normal through exercise, warm air (think sauna), and hot bathing. When this occurs, the body must work harder to maintain the appropriate internal temperature.

But exactly how do hot tubs burn calories? The body produces what are known as heat shock proteins. These accelerate the body’s ability to burn fat.

Hot Bath Weight Loss Tips

Hot bathing to augment weight loss can be an enjoyable and beneficial addition to your weight loss regimen. You already have the answer to ‘how many calories do you burn in a hot tub?’ But hot bathing can also relieve muscle tension, lower blood pressure, improve blood circulation and blood sugar control, and provide deeper sleep. So consider the other benefits and different ways to implement this in your routine while practicing safe bathing.

Does hotter water result in more calories burned in a hot tub?

You may want to maximize the calories burned in a hot tub and be tempted to improve upon the results of the above study by soaking for an extended period or in warmer water. You may base it on the following rationalization. ‘If the body burns calories by working hard to maintain the appropriate internal temperature, do you burn calories in a hot tub faster with hotter water?’ Perhaps. But don’t overdo it!

So, how do hot tubs help you lose weight safely? The hot tub temperature should never exceed 40°C or 104°F. If you’re pregnant, it shouldn’t exceed 38.9°C or 102.0 F.

Some bathers even find those maximums a bit too hot and prefer somewhere between 85°F to 100°F.

Of course, knowing the specifics as to ‘how does a hot tub help you lose weight’ is essential, if that’s your aim. The 140 calories cited in Dr. Faulkner’s study occurred at 40°C or 104°F. But even at this temperature, heat exhaustion or heat stroke (hyperthermia) can occur.

Another way you may be tempted to increase calories burned in a hot tub is to sit in the hot tub longer. But being in warm water too long can also cause these heat-related illnesses, particularly at the maximum recommended temperature.

So it’s crucial to be aware of the symptoms of heat-related illness. Symptoms include dizziness, nausea, fatigue, extreme sweating, rapid heartbeat, confusion, and elevated body temperature. If you experience even one of these, your body is telling you it’s time to get out, and perhaps seek help.

When considering the question, ‘how many calories do you burn in a hot tub’, the length of time noted in the study (1 hour) was at the maximum recommended temperature. Yet, many hot tub retailers and medical professionals recommend no more than 10 minutes of soaking in higher water temperatures. So take precautions to ensure a safe, enjoyable hot tub weight loss experience.

Can a hot tub help you lose weight and get better sleep at the same time?

If you do use the hot tub for weight loss, you can bathe any time of day. Although hot baths do promote deeper and better sleep, they don’t necessarily make you tired. In fact, hot bathing can even energize you by getting your blood pumping. So plan your hot tub weight loss ritual any time of day. But if you also want to improve sleep, bathe one to two hours before bedtime.

Combine hot bath weight loss with exercise

You now have the answer to, ‘do hot tubs help you lose weight?’ Still, the calories burned in a hot tub don’t compare to the calories expended in a robust workout. Exercise also provides other vital health benefits that aren’t achieved passively. Keeping your bones, joints, and muscles strong and healthy requires physical and weight-bearing activity, as well.

So in response to ‘do you burn calories in a hot tub,’ the answer is a resounding ‘yes’! Do hot tubs make you lose weight? Absolutely! But for optimal weight loss and health, use hot tub weight loss sensibly as a supplement to your overall health.