Hot or Not…

Have you ever exercised in a heated room? 

A heated exercise room is not ideal if you aim to change your body composition through fat loss. Yet heated studios frequently use advertising phrases like “feel the burn,” referring to an increased calorie burn. To burn calories and elevate your metabolism, you have to physically do work, producing heat within your body to utilize the fuel source.

As a quick reminder, a calorie is a unit of measurement.  A calorie is the heat energy required to raise 1g of water 1 degree Celsius.

Be aware that heated studios are banking on the ignorance of people who do not realize this critical fact:

Exercise in heated spaces reduces your ability to burn calories.

When exercising at average room temperature, you have a higher potential to burn calories, a.k.a. raise your body temperature enough to raise 1g of water 1 degree Celsius. When exercising in a heated room, the body's primary goal is to cool down and ensure you won't overheat. Your body is highly efficient at staying alive.

I’d like to address that calorie burn and fat loss are not the only goals of fitness. I certainly wouldn’t want to reduce everyone to having that precise goal. However, since it is a widespread goal of gym-goers, I believe the general public should be aware of this fact as they invest their time and money.

I’m not telling you to drop your hot yoga class or boycott saunas. Heated environments can have health benefits. It is notable, however, that exercising in heated classes include many contraindications for special populations, including vascular EDS/POTS.