Does Sweating Help You Lose Weight?

Sweating is the body's natural way of regulating body temperature. It does this by releasing water and salt, which evaporates to help cool you. Sweating itself doesn't burn a measurable amount of calories, but sweating out enough liquid will cause you to lose water weight. It's only a temporary loss, though.

Are you burning fat when you sweat?

While sweating doesn't burn fat, the internal cooling process is a sign that you're burning calories. “The main reason we sweat during a workout is the energy we're expending is generating internal body heat,” Novak says. So if you're working out hard enough to sweat, you're burning calories in the process.

Does sweating help you lose belly fat?

The trainer adds that just because you're sweating doesn't mean you're losing any weight. He likened it to someone sitting in a sauna, watching football and eating tortilla chips, saying that although that person is sweating, they're not losing any body fat.

Maya Lin-Takahashi

Maya Lin-Takahashi

Consumer Tech & Gadget Reviewer

Maya is a hardware enthusiast who tests and reviews smart home devices, smartphones, wearables, and audio gear. She focuses on practical consumer value and build quality.