Repeated Far Infrared Sauna Bathing in Adults With Obesity

University of Oregon

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Obesity (Disorder)

Treatments: Other: Heat therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07158047

07312020.034

19TPA34890033 (Other Grant/Funding Number)

Details and patient eligibility

About

This is a clinical trial to determine if 30 sessions of far infrared sauna bathing can improve cardiovascular and metabolic function in adults with obesity.

Full description

Obesity can increase the risk for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Lifestyle interventions are needed to reduce this risk. Far infrared saunas are one form of heat therapy that may help reduce these risks, however, there is limited research within a population with obesity. It is hypothesized that repeated far infrared sauna bathing will improve cardiovascular and metabolic function in adults with obesity.

Enrollment: 20 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 59 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• BMI between 30-45 kg/m2

Exclusion criteria

• Diagnosed diabetes
• Greater than stage 2 hypertension
• Coagulopathies
• Allergies to lidocaine
• Medications affecting blood pressure
• Blood clotting, and blood sugars
• Smoker
• Pregnant
• Desiring to become pregnant in the near future
• Breastfeeding
• BMI less than 30
• BMI greater than 45 kg/m2
• Exercising > 120 min/week
• Taking medications (other than hormone contraceptives)
• Not willing to stop taking medications (other than hormone contraceptives) for 24 hours before testing days

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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20 participants in 2 patient groups

Heat therapy

Experimental group

Description:

Group will undergo 30 sessions of heat therapy over approximately 10 weeks. Sessions will require participants to sit in a far infrared sauna for up to 45 min for 3 to 4 times per week.

Treatment:

Other: Heat therapy

Time control group

No Intervention group

Description:

No participation in sauna bathing. Maintain lifestyle habits for approximately 10 weeks.