(Photo by Andrea Piacquadio via Pexels) A daily sauna could help prevent middle-aged women from piling on the pounds, according to new research. The study conducted with mice suggests that daily time in a warm environment - such as a sauna - might help older people, especially women, combat age-related obesity and insulin resistance. The findings show the potential of heat treatments as a simple way to promote healthier aging, say scientists.
The American research team found that older female mice receiving a daily 30-minute whole-body heat treatment gained less weight and showed improved use of insulin, which helps control blood sugar. They also identified the biological processes responsible for the beneficial effects. Research team leader Professor Soonkyu Chung, of the , said: “Compared to men, women have a higher likelihood of being obese or overweight.
Researchers Rong Fan (left) and Soonkyu Chung (right) from the Department of Nutrition at the University of Massachusetts Amherst found that daily heat treatment improves metabolic health and insulin sensitivity in aging and menopause animal models. (Hyunji Cho, UMass Amherst via SWNS) “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 candidate advised by Chung, said: “Heat therapy could .