Effects of Near Infrared light Application Combined with Aerobic Exercise on Excessive Abdominal Fat and Obesity

Abstract

This study was conducted to examine the effects of a near infrared-light-emitting diode (NIR-LED) in conjunction with low endurance exercise on obesity and abdominal fat. Twenty-six overweight adolescents aged 14-15 years were divided into an experimental and control group. Participants in the experimental group performed endurance exercise on a treadmill while wearing NIR-LED belts on their abdomens. The exercise intensity, duration, and frequency were 50% VO2 max, 45 min/session and three days per week for four weeks. Participants in the control group underwent the same exercise protocol as those in the experimental group. The only difference between both groups was that the participants in the control group used belts that have no NIR-LED. The results of this experiment demonstrated that participants in the experimental group showed a significantly reduced body mass index (BMI), circumference of waists, and percentage of body fat when compared to participants in the control group. These results suggest that application of the NIR-LED is an effective method for the treatment of obesity and reducing abdominal fat. We postulated that NIR stimulated the biological functions of cells situated at the abdominal region, which made more fat available for burning during endurance exercise. In addition, NIR-LED and exercise increased body temperature during treatment, which further enhanced mobilization of fatty tissues. These underlying mechanisms support the view that both NIR and low intensity exercise show synergistic effects for reducing fat. However, further research is needed to validate the results presented herein.

Does treadmill walking with near-infrared light applied to the abdominal area reduce local adiposity and body weight?

“…The results of the present study support the previous studies that reported that near-infrared application had a significant effect on lipolysis 9 ) . In addition, the study by Ali et al 6 ) supports the results of the present study, reporting that obese adolescents showed a significant decrease in waist circumference, body fat percentage, and body-mass index compared to the control group when near-infrared rays were irradiated into the abdomen during aerobic exercise. The changes in body composition found in the present study may be due to the following: Several studies have shown that near-infrared light penetrates relatively deeply into the brain and tissues 10 ) .…”

“…In a prior study, obese adolescents, wearing an abdominal band that radiated near-infrared rays, performed aerobic exercise for 50 minutes 3 times a week for 4 weeks. It was found that body-mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and fat level were significantly more decreased in the group who were treated with both aerobic exercise and NIR, compared to those who only had aerobic exercise 6 ) . In addition, Mecrea et al investigated the effect of water-filtered infrared-A (wIRA) on local fat reduction during moderate bicycle ergometer endurance exercise, and found greater decrease in the circumferences of waist, hip, and both thighs in the wIRA group relative to the control group 7 ) .…”