Should you believe in slimming wraps?

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

This remedy is like from a fairy tale about Cinderella. You will instantly lose weight, but the miracle will quickly turn into a pumpkin.

When it comes to losing weight, people are ready to use any method. Someone goes on a strict diet. Others buy a gym membership. Still others start to sell teas for weight loss and enthusiastically google products with negative calories.

Body wraps are another popular way to get rid of the hated pounds. It is said to help to quickly reduce body volume and make the skin smoother and more elastic. But, as often happens, the truth is somewhere in between.

What are wraps and how they work

A few decades ago, it all began with Body Wraps: What to expect with linen sheets. They were impregnated with infusions of fragrant herbs - eucalyptus, rosemary, lavender, and then tightly wrapped around the body. It was the prototype of modern spa treatments. According to women, herbal wraps moisturize and tone the skin. And at the same time they calmed or invigorated - depending on the type of herbs.

Later, linen sheets gave way to plastic wrap or thin thermal blankets. Today the procedure looks like this: one or another mixture (moisturizing, cleansing, anti-cellulite - sea recipes) is applied to the skin, and the body is wrapped on top with a film or a warm blanket. The skin heats up, its pores become wider, and sweating increases.

In spas, they claim that due to this, toxins are removed from under the skin, and moisturizing and other beneficial substances enter into it. At the same time, the body spends extra calories to warm up, which supposedly leads to weight loss.

There really is some truth in this. But only a share.

Do body wraps help you lose weight?

To date, there is no scientific evidence that body wraps, no matter how useful ingredients are in their composition, can rid the skin of toxins. But it is still possible to lose weight with their help.

Due to the active perspiration that occurs under the film, the body loses moisture. Therefore, jumping on the scales immediately after the procedure, you may well find the loss of several hundred grams, or even a whole kilo!

At first glance, it looks magical. You lay under the film for 30-40 minutes, rested, relaxed - and at the same time lost weight, as if plowing in the gym. But, like any magic, this effect is short-lived. Moreover, it is dangerous.

First, a rise in temperature can in some cases lead to overheating and thermal shock. Secondly, moisture loss is a sure way to dehydration, which can seriously affect your health.

To prevent critical moisture loss, you must drink. But as soon as you restore the amount of fluid in the body, the weight lost will return again.

Sandra Freihofer MD, former president of the American College of Physicians

Weight loss with body wraps is temporary. Don't expect them to replace a healthy diet and exercise.

What you need to know before doing slimming wraps

However, there are situations when temporary weight loss will suit you. For example, you want to urgently lose weight before meeting classmates or taking a photo session on the beach. In this case, wrapping is not a bad option.

But before signing up for the procedure, try to reduce the risk of possible problems.

1. Find out which ingredients are included in the wrap mix. This is especially important if you have sensitive skin. Sometimes mixtures include essential oils, mustard, pepper, to which the epidermis can react with irritation. The most competent option: ask to apply a little of the mixture on your hand, hold it for a few minutes and evaluate the skin reaction.
2. Be sure to check with your GP if you are taking any medication. Substances in wrap mixes are absorbed through the skin and may interfere with the action of some drugs.
3. Be prepared for discomfort. When wrapping, the body is tightly wrapped in a film. You may feel like a matted mummy.
4. Drink plenty of fluids. This will help keep you hydrated.
5. Remember: weight loss in this case is temporary. Body wraps are not a substitute for a healthy lifestyle. The only sure way to lose weight is by combining a healthy diet, an active lifestyle, and daily exercise.