Increase Fat Loss (And Burn Off Stubborn Fat) with Red and Near-Infrared Light Therapy

How does red light therapy enhance weight loss, fat burning, and shrink waist circumference? While there is still some debate among researchers over the exact mechanisms involved, the research clearly shows that it does work. The most popular theory among researchers is by causing fat cells to release stored fat into the bloodstream, where it can then be burned off during energy expenditure or via exercise.

Research has shown that red and near-infrared light therapy has a profound impact on reducing fat mass and fat tissue, and at eliminating cellulite.

In studies, red and near-infrared light therapy have helped shave an entire 3.5 to 5.17 inches off waist and hip circumference by reducing the fat mass layer in just four weeks of use.

Red and near-infrared light therapy work to not only release the fat into the blood but does so without negatively affecting blood serum lipid profiles.

In another study of 86 individuals using red light therapy at 635 nm for 20 minutes every other day for two weeks, study participants lost 2.99 inches across all body parts—yes, 3 inches—in just 14 days of red light therapy.

That said, I am not a strong advocate of trying to use red/NIR light therapy alone to cause fat loss. Where I believe red/NIR light therapy really shine (forgive the pun) is when combined with exercise.

Some research shows that near-infrared light therapy can dramatically enhance—nearly double—fat loss from exercise, as compared to people doing just the exercise routine without the NIR light therapy.

In addition, the group using NIR light therapy in tandem with exercise saw nearly double the improvements in insulin resistance!

NIR light nearly doubled the loss of body fat and nearly doubled the improvement in insulin resistance.

Here’s a quote from one review of the scientific literature on the ability of red/NIR light to help with fat loss:

“Within the past decade, LLLT has also emerged as a new modality for noninvasive body contouring. Research has shown that LLLT is effective in reducing overall body circumference measurements of specifically treated regions, including the hips, waist, thighs, and upper arms, with recent studies demonstrating the long-term effectiveness of results. The treatment is painless, and there appear to be no adverse events associated with LLLT. The mechanism of action of LLLT in body contouring is believed to stem from photoactivation of cytochrome c oxidase within hypertrophic adipocytes, which, in turn, affects intracellular secondary cascades, resulting in the formation of transitory pores within the adipocytes’ membrane. The secondary cascades involved may include but are not limited to, activation of cytosolic lipase and nitric oxide. Newly formed pores release intracellular lipids, which are further metabolized.”

To give you an idea of some of the research:

A group of 20 women riding stationary bicycles 3 times per week for 4 weeks while being exposed to NIR lost (on their waist, hips, and thighs) an average of 8 centimetres or 444% more fat (specifically on the waist, hips, and thighs) as compared to 20 women doing the same exercise without NIR.

Studies on “laser liposuction” have also shown that red/NIR light therapy alone can even have significant fat loss benefits. “LLLT achieved safe and significant girth loss sustained with cumulative treatments of 8 treatments over a 4-week period. The girth loss from the waist gave clinically and statistically significant cosmetic improvement.”

Overall, the research is clear that red/NIR light can be a powerful tool to support your fat loss efforts.

So, with a red/NIR light therapy device of your own, you can potentially achieve significant weight loss and fat reduction (and dramatic improvements in insulin sensitivity) in the comfort of your own home.