Are Sauna Suits Good For You?

Gym-goers performing planks

https://www.healthline.com/health/sauna-suit-benefits

This article by Healthline goes over the benefits, risks, and reasoning for working out in a sauna suit. A sauna suit is essentially a waterproof tracksuit that retains your body heat perspiration when you work out. Due to this retention of body heat, the suit caters to people who want to lose weight at a fast rate.

While this seems like a good idea, there are some risks attach to this suit.

These suits can have a negative effect on:

  • thermal regulation
  • cardiovascular function
  • renal function
  • hydration
  • electrical activity
  • electrolyte balance
  • muscle strength
  • muscle endurance
  • body composition 

These negative effects could lead to potentially fatal conditions such as:

  • Hypothermia
  • Dehydration
People working out in a sauna suit

Sauna suits are popular among fellow gym-goers who try to cheat their way through their workout journey. They feel with these suits, they’ll be able to fast track their weight loss. The only thing that sauna suits do is remove the water weight from your body. At first, it might seem you lost a lot of weight during your workout, but once you drink a few sips of water you realize that you did not lose much weight. Most of the weight you lose is not done in the gym. It is done in the kitchen and with the food you eat. Working out in the gym is only about 30% of the work. You can do so much in the gym but if you don’t maintain healthy eating habits you’re not going to see the results you hope for.


While sauna suits do not serve any purpose for losing weight, it does help fighters get in shape for a fight. The water weight that they lose during their workout could help them reach the weight goals that they need for a specific fight. Sauna suits also give you a different approach to your workout. The hot heat you endure during your workout can push you to new limits.


With claims of sauna suits being good for you and your workout, there is no research to back up these claims. On paper, the suit might sound like a good idea, but the risks do not outweigh the potential reward it gives.