New research suggests that daily saunas could help women control their blood sugar better and combat post-menopausal weight gain. Researchers from the University of Massachusetts Amherst found that older female mice receiving daily 30-minute whole-body heat treatments gained less weight and had better insulin sensitivity than those that didn’t receive treatment. The findings are noteworthy because menopause increases the risk of obesity and insulin resistance due to lower estrogen levels.
The researchers also discovered how the heat therapy works to provide these benefits. “Compared to men, women have a higher likelihood of being obese or overweight,” Soonkyu Chung, associate professor in the Department of Nutrition at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and research team leader, said in a news release. “This is especially true after menopause, due to the loss of estrogen in the body.
Our study suggests that whole-body heat therapy could serve as an effective, non-invasive solution for managing weight gain and insulin resistance associated with menopause.” Rong Fan, a doctoral student advised by Ms. Chung, presented the findings on July 1 at NUTRITION 2024, the American Society for Nutrition’s annual meeting—held in Chicago.
The mice who underwent heat therapy had “significantly reduced lactate dehydrogenase levels, indicating less age-related tissue damage.” The treatment also helped reduce weight gain from the high-fat diet. Compared to the untreated m.
