Repeated Dry Sauna Therapy Improves Quality of Life in Obese Korean People
- Author:
Hoon Sung CHOI
1
;
Hyuki KWON
;
Keun-Hyok CHO
;
Le Cong THUC
;
So Young PARK
;
Nam-Hun KIM
;
Wae-Jung KIM
;
Yun-Ki KIM
;
Woo-Seok JEON
;
Ju-Ah LEE
;
Hyoung-Chun KIM
;
Eun-Hee CHO
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Korean Journal of Family Medicine 2020;41(5):312-317
- CountryRepublic of Korea
-
Abstract:
Background:Dry sauna treatments improve the quality of life for chronic pain, congestive heart failure, and type 2 diabetes patients. This study aimed to determine whether dry sauna therapy improved the quality of life of obese people.
Methods:A total of 38 consecutive participants aged over 20 years with a body mass index of ≥25 kg/m2 were recruited for the study. The participants were treated with a 90°C dry sauna for 15 minutes, twice daily for 4 consecutive days. To assess the quality of life, all participants completed the 5 level EQ-5D questionnaires and the EQ-Visual Analog Scale. Study parameters were measured on the same day prior to commencing the sauna sessions in a fasted state and 2 days after the last sauna session.
Results:The average age was 62.3±9.5 years; 84.2% of the participants were female. The mean body mass index was 28.5±2.4 kg/m2. Dry sauna significantly improved the mean 5 level EQ-5D index scores from 0.83±0.12 to 0.89±0.11 and increased the mean EQ-Visual Analog Scale from 79.0±15.2 to 91.1±9.7. However, there were no significant changes in body mass index, blood pressure, heart rate, or body composition before and after the 8-session sauna therapy.
Conclusion:Dry sauna improved the health-related quality of life of obese patients without adverse events. Further clinical studies in larger study populations are needed to verify these findings and provide concrete evidence for obesity treatment.
