5 Side Effects of Slimming Belts You Rarely Knew!

Medically reviewed by Ashwathy V. Pillai,  Postgraduate Degree in Dietetics & Applied Nutrition

Slimming belts are like hair colors of the weight loss industry. They appear to be a simple solution to your bulging belly fat, however, their effectiveness is very doubtful.

The market is full of slim belts under various brands that are shouting at the top of their voices to lure you in and why not, the ads try their level best to convince you.

The underlying problem is that these belts, machines, or any weight loss pill for that matter, can never bring you a sustainable weight loss. The makers of these slimming belts have to say that the movements produced by the belt stimulate the muscles in the waist area, which results in the tightening of the belly muscles.

They even claim that the stomach volume can be reduced which leads to the reduction of the amount of food intake, thereby reducing the weight.

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But the users have to say that they have not experienced any loss in weight but yes, they started to look slimmer due to the tightening of muscles with the use of this slimming belt.

Here, we will explain to you the various types of slimming belts available in the market. There are a few slimming belts where the user can control the speed of vibration.

There are a few that are best suited to be used while exercising as they increase the perspiration leading the user to lose more water content of the body which further leads to weight loss. Another type of slimming belts is specifically designed to support the back and they also help the user to lose weight. They are quite easy to wear and use.

Usually, a manual is provided by the company following which, you can easily wear and start using the belt.

Just wear the belt around your focus area and connect it to the power supply. Your focus area could be your thighs, hips, stomach, or waist and you may tie the belt anywhere you want.

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Now adjust the intensity of vibration according to your level of comfort. Normally, slimming belts should be used for a period of 15 to 30 minutes. As against the belief of many users of the belt that longer use of the belt gives faster results, we would like to tell you that this is actually untrue. Longer use of the belt may actually give you blisters on your body.

Initially, you may feel some itching in the area where you are using the belt. But don’t get worried. It is just your body’s reaction to the vibrations produced by the belt.

With regular use of the belt, the itching will disappear within a few days and you will be able to use the belt easily.

The Best Way to Use a Slimming Belt

• Remove the clothing that covers your focus areas like stomach, waist, hips, etc as the slimming belt has to be worn directly over your body, touching your skin.
• Wrap the slimming belt around your abdomen, so that both the ends of the belt will meet near your belly button.
• Wear your clothing back over the slimming belt.
• The electronic slimming belt can be set to work at different levels of vibration to suit your csupport and improvedomfort level.
• The preset timer helps you to set the time of working so that it switches off automatically after the set time.
• You can wear it while you sit, stand, or workout; walk or jog with your belt to get better results.
• Wash it after your workout; it has to be cleaned after every use.

Do Slimming Belts Really Work?

In a desperate attempt to lose those extra inches, even I had bought a slimming belt but the one question that kept haunting me was “Will the slimming belt work?”

I had my own apprehensions when I used it for the first time. I must confess that I overdid it and ended up with blisters a few areas of my body. But at the same time, I saw that regular use of the belt for about twenty-five minutes each day helped me lose a few inches from my waist, arms, thighs, and stomach.

Now logically talking, the weight we lose through a slimming belt is nothing but fluid and this may be gained back soon, which means that the results gained through slimming belts are short-term.

Long-term results can be gained through regular exercise and consuming a balanced diet. Work out and eat well. That is the best way to cut down on your fat and lead a healthy wholesome life.

Benefits of Using Slimming Belts

1. Improved Posture

When you work out or sitting at your desk wearing that belt of yours, your posture is getting improved. Wearing a belt will help you sit straighter and lead to improved posture. According to Spine-Health.com, back support and improved posture are essential for reducing episodes of back and neck pain.

2. Improved Self Confidence

With the use of a slimming belt, you may experience an improvement immediately which will give your self-confidence a boost. With this improved self-confidence, you may feel the motivation to work harder in order to achieve your maximum weight loss.

For best results, combine your regular use of a slimming belt with consumption of fat-burning foods and exercises.

Side Effects of Using Slimming Belts

1. Increased Body Temperature

The slimming belt causes the body to perspire more than normal by holding heat inside your body. Though this heat will give you the desired result, it does not allow the body to cool down as much as it should.

Also, if you are using the belt in high temperatures, it can increase the risk of heat stroke and exhaustion, which are big risks to take actually.

2. Abnormal Skin Conditions

While in use, the slimming belt holds perspiration against the skin preventing the fresh air to circulate around it. Regular use of slimming belts may cause itchiness, rashes, and acne in the skin where it has been tied.

3. Skin Burns

Direct contact with skin with the slimming belt many a time, causes burns and blisters and this causes a lot of problems to the user.

4. Dehydration

The use of slimming belts may lead you to sweat heavily making you highly dehydrated. That’s why they probably say that overexposure to a sauna belt can have a hazardous effect on the system.

5. Imbalance in Electrolyte Level

Excessive sweating often results in an imbalance in electrolyte level. Imbalance in electrolytes levels is followed by a cramp in muscles.

If you at any point experience this, immediately stop using the belt and consume an electrolyte-containing sports drink or coconut water. For more information on the benefits of coconut water, you may read this.

Considering the various and serious ill-effects of slimming on the human body internally and externally, we at Possible do not encourage its use and rather suggest consumption of healthy and real food for weight loss.

Want to know more about weight loss and nutrition. Talk to a Possible Nutritionist today. The first consultation is on us! Start by taking a FREE health consultation at your home.

FAQ’S

1. Do slimming belts really work?

A. Slimming belts are quite popular in the weight loss industry. However, their effects are temporary and definitely not sustainable.

2. What are the side effects of Slimming Belts?

A. There can be different side-effects of slimming belts like the ones already mentioned. Out of them, skin rashes and skin burns are quite common.

3. Has anyone benefitted yet with slim belts?

A. It will definitely vary from person to person. Although there can be a temporary reduction in waist inches by using slimming belts, it won’t sustain if you do not follow any good diet and exercise routine.

4. How to get slim without a workout?

A. Well, this would be like bursting a myth. However, in reality in order to achieve a slimmer body, one has to follow at least some sort of physical activity along with giving about 70% importance to diet.