Could Daily Sauna Sessions Prevent Menopausal Weight Gain? Study Sheds Light

New research, presented at NUTRITION 2024 — the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition— highlighted heat treatments as a method to encourage healthier aging.

The study suggested that whole-body heat therapy could be an effective and non-invasive method for managing both age-related and menopause-related weight gain and insulin resistance.

The findings were published in the journal Current Developments in Nutrition.

Menopause, the natural biological process marking the end of a woman's reproductive years, typically occurs in the late 40s to early 50s. During menopause, hormonal changes, particularly the decrease in estrogen levels, can lead to various physical and emotional symptoms. One common issue is weight gain. This weight gain is often due to a slower metabolism, loss of muscle mass, and changes in fat distribution. Managing weight during menopause can be challenging but is crucial for overall health, as excess weight can increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other conditions.

In a recent study, researchers investigated the effects of daily heat therapy on weight gain during menopause by using 10-month-old mice to model aging and mice with their ovaries removed to simulate postmenopausal conditions. To induce weight gain, the mice were fed a Western diet with 45% of calories from fat.

One group of mice underwent daily 30-minute heat therapy sessions in a chamber set to 40℃ (104°F) for 12 weeks, while the other group did not receive any heat treatment.

The results showed that the aging mice receiving heat therapy had significantly lower levels of lactate dehydrogenase, indicating reduced tissue damage related to aging.

Moreover, heat therapy effectively prevented weight gain caused by the high-fat diet in both aging mice and those with their ovaries removed. Compared to the untreated mice, those that received heat therapy exhibited notable improvements in insulin sensitivity and signaling, and decreased fat accumulation in critical areas like the liver and brown fat. Brown fat, unlike regular adipose tissue, is metabolically active and helps the body burn more energy.

“Our research shows that daily whole-body heat treatment (104-113°F) for 30 minutes can significantly reduce obesity and improve insulin sensitivity in older female mice and mouse models that simulate menopause. The 30-minute daily duration for heat treatment was chosen based on CDC guidelines, which recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week for adults,” said Rong Fan, author of the study.

Reference: Rong Fan, Sean Bannon, Judy Kim, Gwenael Layec, Soonkyu Chung; Hyperthermia Treatment Attenuates Diet-Induced Obesity and Insulin Resistance in Old Female and Ovariectomized Mice via TRPV1-Mediated Futile Calcium Cycling; Current Developments in Nutrition;2024; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cdnut.2024.102231.