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Do Hot Tubs Burn Calories & Help You Lose Weight?

Imagine that – lounging in a comfortable hot tub and losing weight at the same time! Read more about how you can utilize your hot tub for weight loss and its benefits.

Starting and maintaining a workout schedule can be a difficult task for most people. Intensive gym routines or morning runs are not for everyone. These days, however, there are several new ways to exercise and lose weight, including hot tubs!

When one thinks of a hot tub, weight loss isn’t the first thing that pops into mind. We usually imagine ourselves immersed in a calm and relaxing environment with our eyes closed. But that’s not all there is to hot tubs. Recent research has shown that soaking in a hot tub also has the ability to burn calories.

Do Hot Tubs Help You Lose Weight?

You might be wondering, can a hot tub help you lose weight? The answer is yes! Soaking in a hot tub can support your weight loss goals by burning calories, improving sleep, and providing a low-impact environment for exercise. Recent research shows that hot tubs, including jacuzzis, offer benefits for weight loss by increasing metabolism and promoting relaxation, making them a great addition to a healthy lifestyle.

Does Sitting in a Hot Tub Burn Calories?

One of the most common questions we hear is, does sitting in a hot tub burn calories? Absolutely! When you soak in a hot tub, the warm water raises your body temperature, boosting your metabolism. This process can burn approximately 100–300 calories per hour, depending on your body size and soak duration. While it’s not a replacement for exercise, it’s a relaxing way to support your hot tub and weight loss journey.

ActivityCalories Burned (per hour)
Sitting in a Hot Tub150–280
Walking (moderate pace)200–300
Swimming (light)300–400
Comparison of calorie burn for a 150-pound person.
Studies suggest that a 30-minute hot tub session at 104°F can burn approximately 140 calories, similar to a 30-minute walk.
lbs
min
°F

Estimated Calories Burned: 0

This estimate is based on research showing that passive heating can increase energy expenditure.

Important Safety Notes:

  • Stay hydrated during hot tub sessions
  • Limit sessions to 30 minutes
  • Recommended temperature is between 100-104°F (37.8-40°C)
  • Exit immediately if you feel dizzy or uncomfortable
  • Consult your doctor before starting any new health routine
  • Not recommended for pregnant women or those with certain medical conditions

Does a Hot Tub Make You Gain Weight?

Concerned that a hot tub might make you gain weight? Let’s clear up this misconception. Hot tubs, including jacuzzis, do not cause weight gain. In fact, they can support weight loss by burning calories and promoting relaxation, which helps manage stress-related overeating. Weight gain typically comes from diet or lifestyle factors, not from using a hot tub. So, enjoy your soak with confidence, knowing it offers hot tub benefits for weight loss!

How To Use a Hot Tub For Weight Loss

Ready to use your hot tub for weight loss? To maximize its benefits, soak for 20–30 minutes several times a week, combine with light stretching or water exercises, and maintain a balanced diet. These steps enhance the hot tub’s ability to burn calories, improve sleep, and support an active lifestyle, making it a powerful tool for achieving your weight loss goals.

Let’s take a look at the several ways hot tubs can help you achieve your weight loss goals:

Burns Calories

When the body is immersed in hot water, the body temperature rises above normal. This causes the body to work harder in order to maintain a proper resting temperature. During this process, the body produces heat shock proteins. These proteins are responsible for accelerating the body’s ability to burn fat.

Compliments Physical Exercise

However, it is important to understand that while soaking in a hot tub is a way to burn calories, it does not count for a complete workout. You should complement your hot tub soak with physical exercise and a proper diet in order to maintain your weight loss goals.

Improved Sleep

One of the known best ways to manage a healthy weight is to improve your quality of sleep. A well-rested and energized body has the potential to manage your weight loss goals much better than a sleep-deprived one.

Hot tubs can do wonders in improving your quality of sleep. Soaking in a hot tub raises the body’s temperature. As you exit the hot tub, your body begins to cool down. This process can help you fall asleep quicker and lead to more deep and restful sleep.

Hydrotherapy

Additionally, hydrotherapy has the potential to relax your body and soothe your muscles. This helps your body calm down and ease before nighttime. When you finally try to sleep, your hot tub soak will already have removed the tension from your body, leading to better quality of sleep.

Exercise For Arthritic Patients

In order to manage the symptoms of arthritis, doctors recommend exercise to patients. However, given the inflammation already present in joints, patients of this condition can find it daunting to exercise.

Hot tubs provide patients the chance to do water exercises. Since the buoyancy of water makes you feel light, it lifts pressure from stiff joints and allows greater freedom of movement. Thus, water can provide the perfect pain-free exercise environment for arthritic patients. Hot tubs, thus, provide an excellent environment for arthritic patients to manage their weight loss and stay in shape.

How Exactly Does Weight Loss Occur?

The process of losing weight revolves around burning body fat. The key to losing weight is burning more calories than you intake. Only then will you notice a significant weight loss.

There are several ways to do this. Some people prefer to cut back on sugar or carbs, while others focus on physical exercise. However, losing weight doesn’t always have to be about intense physical exertion.

Use a Swim Spa To Manage Weight Loss

Along with hot tubs, swim spas are also an excellent way to achieve your weight loss goals. A swim spa provides spacious room to perform exercise. Swim spa jets also create a current system that allows the swimmer to swim in place. You can swim “laps” without the need for a pool!

Swim spa jets also help create the ideal workout experience. Water workouts are beneficial because water provides more resistance than air. This makes the swimming movement challenging to each and every muscle of the body. Exercising in water helps to prevent overheating while keeping your heart rate from rising too much.

FeatureHot TubSwim Spa
Calorie Burn100–200/hr (passive)300–600/hr (active swimming)
Exercise PotentialLow-impact (hydrotherapy)High (swimming, resistance)
Relaxation BenefitsHigh (sleep, stress relief)Moderate (post-workout)
Comparison of hot tubs and swim spas for weight loss.

Transform Your Lifestyle With a Hot Tub Today!

Along with burning calories and improving your quality of sleep, hot tubs can help promote an active and healthy lifestyle. The team at Epic Hot Tubs can help you begin the process of getting your own hot tub today! Call us at 888-884-3742 or fill out the form below to get started.

About The Author:

Richard Horvath

Hot Tub & Spa Expert

Richard has been in the hot tub & spa industry for years. As a long hot tub & swim spa owner himself, Richard has a passion for helping homeowners create their dream backyard.