The sauna suit, also known as a “sauna suit”, was originally created as a tool to increase sweating during physical activity. Over time, it has been widely used in various disciplines, but it is in combat sports that it has become particularly popular. Athletes of boxing, MMA, Olympic wrestling, and Muay Thai use it regularly, especially to quickly manage body weight in preparation for a match.

Goals and perceived benefits

The main goal of those who wear a sauna suit is to help reduce body weight in a short time, often to fit into a specific weight class before a competition. In addition to rapid fluid loss, some athletes believe that it:

• Increases calorie expenditure thanks to its thermogenic effect.
• Facilitates a kind of “detoxification” of the body through intense sweating.
• Helps speed up muscle warm-up during training.

Medical and physiological aspects

The use of the sauna suit primarily affects the body’s thermoregulation mechanism. By preventing normal heat dissipation, internal temperature rises more quickly, triggering abundant sweating. On the one hand, this can help burn more calories in a given period of time, but on the other, it increases the risk of:

• Dehydration, as a large amount of fluids are lost in a short time.
• Electrolyte imbalances, which can cause cramps or muscle fatigue.
• Cardiovascular stress, due to the higher heart rate caused by overheating.

Usage strategies and timing

Athletes who rely on the sauna suit usually include it in the weight cutting phase before a competition, where they need to lose several kilos in a short period. It is essential to carefully plan the training sessions in which the suit is worn, avoiding excessively long or too frequent sessions. Often, its use is combined with a highly controlled diet, supervised by nutritionists and athletic trainers.

Weight loss vs. fat loss

It is important to clarify that the weight loss achieved with the sauna suit is primarily due to the reduction of bodily fluids. This means that, at the end of the training session, the athlete may weigh less on the scale, but this does not necessarily correspond to a reduction in body fat. In fact, dehydration often leads to reduced physical performance and increased risk of injury, especially if fluid and electrolyte levels are not properly restored.

Guidelines and best practices

• Hydration management: Drink enough before, during, and after training to make up for lost fluids.
• Pairing with a balanced diet: Weight cutting should always be done under the supervision of a nutrition professional.
• Gradual and moderate approach: Do not prolong sauna suit sessions excessively and pay attention to the body’s signals to avoid undue fatigue.
• Careful planning: Especially in combat sports, it is important to know when to use the sauna suit, accurately scheduling recovery phases before the match.

Rules and regulations

Some sports federations have introduced stricter rules on extreme “weight cutting” to prevent athletes from resorting to overly drastic, dangerous methods. Before using the sauna suit for competitive purposes, it is advisable to check the current regulations and permitted practices, so as to avoid penalties or, worse, safety issues.

Advice from professionals and testimonials

Many high-level athletes claim to rely on the sauna suit only in specific phases and for limited periods. According to athletic trainers and sports doctors, in fact, continuous and prolonged use can place great strain on the body, especially if nutrition and hydration are not properly planned. Consulting expert staff is the best way to safely manage the use of this tool.

Critical viewpoints and controversies

There is no shortage of negative opinions about using the sauna suit as a weight-cutting method. Some believe it creates a false sense of fitness, driving athletes to extremes without considering potential short- and long-term damage. Moreover, excessively rapid weight loss can leave behind metabolic waste that is not properly eliminated, causing fatigue and increasing the risk of injury or performance drops.

Conclusions and recommendations

Ultimately, the sauna suit can be a useful tool for combat sports athletes who need to reduce body weight quickly. However, the risks of reckless use should not be underestimated. It is essential to pair the use of the sauna suit with a tailored diet and training regimen, along with constant medical monitoring. This way, potential benefits can be maximized and health or performance risks can be minimized.