Can Sleeping on a Heating Pad Help You Lose Weight?

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Weight loss is an important goal for many Americans. In fact, around 70% of Americans are overweight or obese and many are trying different techniques to lose weight and live a healthier lifestyle.

Diet and exercise are the best, most healthy way to lose weight, but what about all the popular products that claim to help you lose those last few stubborn pounds? Every day you probably see advertisements for magic pills or expensive procedures to lose weight, but do they actually work?

Can Sleeping on a Heating Pad Help You Lose Weight?

There is a belief in some medical communities that applying heating pads to problem areas (especially to your mid-section) will help “burn” away fat. However, when tested, this claim seems to mostly be a myth.

Most heating pads and heating belts advertise that their product uses heat and electrical stimulation and that this increased heat will target fat and result in weight loss. However, after extensive product testing, researchers have found that these products rarely work, especially on belly fat.

Although your standard over the counter heating pad cannot burn away your fat, there have been some breakthroughs in procedures that use heat to destroy fat cells.

Dermatologists and other medical professionals have access to technology that uses radiofrequency waves to heat up and damage fat cells allowing your body to remove the cells as waste. This professional procedure has been proven an effective weight loss method.

This method however, is not meant to be an easy fix and is not recommended if you have a lot of excess fat to lose. Medical professionals still recommend a healthy diet and exercise regimen to effectively reduce weight and then only recommend heat technology for those final stubborn pockets of fat.

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Burning Calories While You Sleep

Did you know that your body actually performs more metabolic functions at night while you sleep then during the day when you’re awake? This results in you burning calories even when you are sleeping!

Although you do not need a heating pad to burn fat while you sleep, if a heating pad gives you comfort and helps you obtain a better night’s sleep, it could result in fat burning benefits. The deeper and better you sleep, the more fat your body will burn because your brain is most active during REM sleep.

Studies have shown that people who get less than seven hours of sleep each night are more prone to obesity. So how can you ensure that you are getting your best night’s sleep and taking advantage of those extra fat burning hours? Here are a few ideas:

Keep your room at a cooler temperature. Your body burns calories while it regulates your body temperature.
Sleep in a completely dark room. Complete darkness triggers your brain to produce melatonin for a deeper, sounder sleep.
Exercise at least three hours before bedtime. Exercise causes a stimulatory effect so it could effect your sleep if you workout too close to bedtime.
Don’t use electronic devises before going to sleep. Blue light effects the production of melatonin which can slow your metabolism and lead to weight gain.
Avoid alcohol before bed. In addition to effecting melatonin production, alcohol will also cause sleep disturbances.

To Sum It Up

In short, sleeping with a heating pad will not help you burn fat. However, some people may find comfort in sleeping with a heating pad and getting a good night sleep will help you burn fat.

There are millions of weight loss products and gimmicks but rarely are they effective at helping you lose and keep off weight. The best way to lose weight is to adopt a healthy diet, exercise daily, and most importantly, get good sleep.

Healthy sleeping habits are so important for losing weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Sound sleep will help you burn fat faster and keep your body pain free so you can continue to strengthen your muscles.

Related Questions:

What is the Best Sleeping Position for a Flat Tummy?

There are several ways to promote more effective fat burning while sleeping and your sleeping position is one of them. Keeping your back and spine straight and healthy is crucial for obtaining a flat belly. If you have back pain, you may have a trouble with your posture and as a result, your ab muscles will be weaker.

Sleeping on your back in the supine position is one of the healthiest ways that you can sleep. Not only does sleeping on your back help reduce chronic pain in your neck, shoulders, hips, and back, but it also helps you burn belly fat while you sleep. When you lie on your back, your body has trouble transforming food into fat causing the body to transform that food into energy instead.

Recommendations for Back Sleeping:

Place a pillow under your knees to take pressure off your lower back
Elevate your head and torso if you have breathing issues
If you’re not used to sleeping on your back, start in this position and change positions every few hours

If you can’t sleep comfortably on your back, sleeping on your side, particularly your left side, is the next best option. Sleeping on your left side allows your heart to easily pump blood throughout your body meaning you will sleep more restfully at night.

When sleeping on your side, place a pillow between your knees to maintain good alignment of your hips, spine, and neck.

What If I am a Stomach Sleeper?

There has been some research that shows that stomach sleeping can also help burn belly fat. Experts have found that the weight of your body putting pressure on your stomach blocks excess fat accumulation in the belly area. Sleep experts however generally recommend against stomach sleeping as it is the worst position for chronic pain.

Sleep Detectives Tip: If you are worried about the negative effects of sleeping on your stomach? Try to get used to switching between stomach and side sleeping throughout the night and make sure you are using a supportive pillow that keeps your neck and spine aligned.