Doctors Explain If Red Light Therapy Really Works for Weight Loss
With all the talk surrounding the perks of weight loss medications right now, it’s fair to wonder if it’s possible to lose weight through other less traditional methods. Using red light therapy for weight loss isn’t a new concept, but it’s gaining steam as a potential method to help you drop fat without making changes to your diet or exercise routine.
Red light therapy has a lot of potential uses, including to tighten skin. But it’s not currently considered a first-line treatment for weight loss.
Meet the experts: Mir Ali, M.D., medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA; Ife J. Rodney, M.D., dermatologist and founding director of Eternal Dermatology + Aesthetics
So, can red light therapy actually help you lose weight? Here’s what the data—and doctors—say.
What is red light therapy?
Red light therapy is also known as low-level laser therapy, says Ife J. Rodney, M.D., a dermatologist and founding director of Eternal Dermatology + Aesthetics. “Basically, this therapy shines the red wavelength of light from the light spectrum onto the skin,” she says.
The treatment is non-invasive and can be used to treat a range of potential health issues. In terms of weight loss, red light therapy is a form of body-sculpting, says Mir Ali, M.D., medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA. “It’s designed to break up fat cells,” he explains.
During a red light therapy procedure, a practitioner will use a laser to direct light into your skin. The light typically can penetrate an inch to two inches below the skin’s surface, targeting the fat that sits just below your skin, called subcutaneous fat. The goal is to essentially blast those fat cells, so they can be removed by the body.
The procedure can be done by a dermatologist, plastic surgeon, or weight loss specialist, although some med spas offer it. Typically, you’ll undergo several treatments for weight loss, Dr. Ali says.
Does it work well for weight loss?
There is some data to support using red light therapy for weight loss, but it’s not consistent or robust.
At baseline, red light therapy is designed to break up fat cells, Dr. Ali says. “When you break down a fat cell, the body absorbs its contents and the fat cells typically don’t grow back,” he says.
But Dr. Ali says red light therapy is “more for body contouring than weight loss.” Meaning, it tries to reshape an area of your body vs. helping you to lose significant amounts of weight.
There have been a few studies on using red light therapy for weight loss, although they’re usually small or not high quality. One study followed 60 people who underwent red light therapy treatments three times a week for four weeks, twice a week for six weeks, or once a week for 12 weeks. These researchers found that people who had the treatments twice a week lost about two centimeters from their waist circumference. But it’s important to point out that the study didn’t have a control group, which usually acts as a baseline for comparison.
An older randomized controlled trial of 67 people found that those who received six red light therapy treatments for two weeks lost about 3.5 inches from their stomach, hips, and thighs, while the control group lost about half an inch. Worth noting: The laser light group participants gained 0.3 inches back across all three sites two weeks after having the procedures.
Red light therapy risks
There are a few potential risks to consider before going through red light therapy. While most research suggests that the therapy is safe overall, there have been a few reports of people suffering skin damage when the laser actually came into contact with their skin.
The procedures also tend to be costly, with packages often costing several thousands of dollars.
Finally, there’s a risk that red light therapy may not work for you. “The amount of weight loss is modest at best,” Dr. Ali says. “If you do lose weight, it does tend to come back because the fat can deposit in other areas of the body.”
How long does it take to see fat loss from red light therapy?
Results vary from person to person, making it hard to definitively say how long it will take to lose weight from red light therapy, if you lose it at all. However, research has found that people have lost weight from these treatments in as little as two weeks when they do several sessions a week.
How does red light therapy tighten belly skin?
Red light therapy is used a lot in dermatology to stimulate collagen production and create tighter skin, Dr. Rodney says. “It can make skin look tighter—less saggy and more firm,” she says. “That could be helpful for the appearance of skin.”
The process of tightening belly skin with red light therapy is similar to what you’d do for weight loss—a provider targets the laser at your skin for extended periods of time during a session.
Can you overdo red light therapy?
Yes, it’s possible to overdo red light therapy. “Because it’s light exposure on your skin, it can cause irritation and even burning,” Dr. Rodney says.
Overall, doctors don’t recommend using red light therapy to try to lose larger amounts of weight, and to keep it off. “Red light therapy on its own is not going to lead to significant weight reduction,” Dr. Rodney says. Dr. Ali agrees. “I haven’t seen any convincing evidence that this is beneficial for meaningful weight loss,” he says.
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