Does the Belly Burner Belt Help Burn Fat?

Ads for the Belly Burner Weight Loss Belt say that losing belly fat is as simple as wrapping the belt around your middle. The Belly Burner belt may be an understandable temptation, especially among middle-age adults who are battling the so-called middle-age spread.

As with most quick fixes, it appears unlikely that the Belly Burner belt or other sauna belts will fulfill these claims.

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The Belly Burner belt promises that when you adorn your abdomen with its special strap, your waistline and love handles will melt away, leaving you with chiseled abs.

A special internal heat mechanism in the belt supposedly creates a sauna effect to increase your core temperature, with the promise to help burn off belly fat.

The Belly Burner belt and other sauna belts can be worn during a variety of activities, including exercises like walking, jogging, cycling and weightlifting.

Any reduction in your waist size is likely a result of the exercise itself rather than from wearing the Belly Burner belt during your workout.

The idea that spot reduction of fat can occur, whether through the use of a sauna belt or specific exercises — such as sit-ups to burn belly fat — is a myth, according to the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).

The NSCA also points out that fat distribution in the body is largely dependent on genetics, and the only way to effectively lose body fat is by creating a caloric deficit — burning more calories than you take in.

As nice as it would be for those struggling with excess belly fat, special belts and other fat-burning apparatus won't magically melt it away.

The same rule applies whether you are trying to get rid of fat from your belly, hips, thighs, arms or anywhere else on your body. Losing fat requires cutting back on calories and stepping up your exercise regimen.

An effective nutrition plan for weight loss includes eating smaller portions and choosing a variety of healthy, lower-calorie foods. A well-balanced diet consists of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean sources of protein like chicken and fish.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise to maintain your weight. You will likely need to increase this number to lose weight.

Read more: The Ultimate Guide to Fat Loss

Belly fat can be stubborn, but it's possible to lose it with a little patience and effort. Lacing up a pair of walking or running shoes may be far more helpful for losing abdominal fat than strapping on a belly fat belt.

The benefits of losing excess belly fat extend far beyond the satisfaction of being able to fit into your skinny jeans. Belly fat increases your risk of serious health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers, explains the Mayo Clinic.