Red Light Therapy for Weight Loss: How It Works and Benefits

Red Light Therapy (RLT) is a non-invasive, non-thermal (heat) treatment option for reducing pain and inflammation and stimulating healing and tissue regeneration.

In recent years, Red Light Therapy has gained attention as a promising treatment for weight loss, cellulite reduction, and improving the blood lipid profile. Studies also suggest that using a Red Light Therapy Bed may enhance the viability of fat cells (adipocytes) during autologous fat transfer procedures, which means improving the survival and function of fat cells that are being transferred from one part of the body to another in a surgical procedure, usually for cosmetic or reconstructive purposes. However, more research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms of action for these effects.

Red light therapy is not liposuction but rather a healthy and sustainable process.

Here’s what we know about how Red Light Therapy helps with weight loss:

First, let’s be clear—red light therapy alone won’t lead to significant weight loss. By now, it’s important to understand that no single method works on its own to achieve and maintain a healthy weight long-term.

Studies suggest that Red Light Therapy for weight loss promotes the photoactivation of cytochrome c oxidase in fat cells (adipocytes). This process of accelerated energy production triggers intracellular cascades that create temporary pores in the fat cell membrane, allowing stored fats (lipids) to be released and metabolized. The activation of cytosolic lipase and nitric oxide further supports this fat-reduction process.

Although research has shown encouraging results in weight loss, more studies are needed to fully understand the cellular effects and optimize treatment protocols for Red Light Therapy, which we at Regenus Center assert will include other recovery and rejuvenation technologies as we offer in the Bio Vitality Protocol, and of course, depend on your lifestyle!

Key Benefits of Red Light Therapy 

1. Non-invasive fat reduction: Unlike surgical methods such as liposuction, RLT is non-invasive and requires no recovery time.
2. Cellulite reduction: Red light therapy has been shown to reduce the appearance of cellulite.
3. Improved body contouring: Studies indicate that RLT can significantly reduce body circumference and fat cell size.
4. No downtime: Patients can immediately return to daily activities after treatment sessions.

How does that happen?

Red light therapy (RLT) helps with cellulite reduction and improved body contouring through the following mechanisms:

1. Cellulite Reduction:
   Red light therapy penetrates the skin and stimulates collagen and elastin production, two essential proteins for skin firmness and elasticity. By enhancing collagen production, RLT helps smooth out the skin’s surface, reducing the dimpled appearance of cellulite. Additionally, it improves blood flow to the affected areas, helping break down fat deposits and flush toxins, further reducing cellulite’s appearance.
2. Improved Body Contouring:
   RLT works by shrinking fat cells through a process called lipolysis. The light energy penetrates fat cells, creating temporary pores in the cell membrane and releasing stored fatty acids and triglycerides. This reduces the overall size of fat cells, leading to a decrease in body circumference. Over time, as fat is metabolized and eliminated by the body, this results in more defined body contours and a slimmer appearance.

Together, these effects make red light therapy a non-invasive, natural option for improving body shape and reducing cellulite.

Side Effects of Red Light Therapy

When used properly, Red Light Therapy is considered safe. No significant adverse effects have been reported in studies, making it an appealing option for those seeking non-invasive weight loss.

Research on Red Light Therapy for losing weight. 

Red Light Therapy has become a popular aesthetic treatment option as the demand for non-invasive weight loss solutions grows. One double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluated the effectiveness of RLT on body contouring and cellulite reduction.

In the study, subjects underwent three weekly treatments for two weeks, with each session exposing the hips, thighs, and waist to red light for 30 minutes. Results showed that 55.88% of the RLT-treated group saw a reduction in cellulite, compared to just 8.82% of the placebo group. Significant improvements were also noted in thigh circumference, body weight, BMI, and cellulite severity, with continued benefits observed during the 6-week follow-up. Most participants were satisfied with the results, and no adverse effects were reported.

Source: A double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial evaluating the ability of low-level laser therapy to improve the appearance of cellulite.
Several other double-blind, placebo-controlled studies and meta-analyses have evaluated the effectiveness of red light therapy (RLT) for weight loss and body contouring. Some key findings include:

1. The Science Supporting Red Light Therapy for Weight Loss

   Does red light therapy work for weight loss? Several studies have demonstrated the benefits of using red light therapy (often referred to as low-level laser therapy, or LLLT, in journal articles) as a weight loss tool.

   • A study [20] published in 2012 in The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology followed a randomized, double-blind study where people were given three weekly LLLT treatments on their arms for two weeks. Those in the control group showed almost no change, while those getting the treatment showed a combined reduction in arm circumference of 3.7cm.
   • A 2012 study [21] published in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine built on earlier research and used 689 participants. This study verified that LLLT reduced the circumference of the waist, hips, and thighs by an average of 3.27 inches after six weeks of treatment. The study also addressed a concern from previous studies, showing that the effects were due to reduced fat tissue, not redistributing fluid or tissue.
   • Another study [22] published in Obesity Surgery used testing to compare a test group and a control group that was specifically instructed not to change their diet or exercise habits. Following four weeks of treatment, the control group’s abdominal girth was reduced by 2.15cm, almost an inch, while there was no meaningful change in the test group.
   • A 2013 study [23] published in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine studied 86 participants who had just finished receiving body contouring of the waist, hips, and thighs using only red light. The study found that the treatments resulted in an average circumference reduction of 3.0 inches.
   • One of the earlier studies [24] into red light therapy for weight loss was published by Lasers in Surgery and Medicine in 2009. This study was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial examining circumference changes after two weeks of treatment. The study showed an overall reduction in total circumference across all three sites of 3.51 inches.
   • A 2016 study published in The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology [25] followed 54 patients from two private dermatology practices using red light therapy. At six weeks, the average combined circumference reduction was 5.4 inches. 81% of the people receiving treatment reported that they were Satisfied (27%) or Very Satisfied (54%) with the aesthetic results of their treatments.
   • A small study [26] was published in the Journal of Lasers in Medical Sciences in 2017. This study followed 18 women using six weeks of LLLT and found that all 18 people experienced abdominal girth reduction following treatment.
   • A recent study [27] in 2020 was published in Lasers in Medical Science and explored how treatments should be arranged. 60 overweight participants received treatment either 1) three times weekly for four weeks, 2) twice weekly for six weeks, or 3) once weekly for 12 weeks. The group that received two treatments weekly for six weeks showed the greatest change out of the three groups.
   • A 2012 study [28] published in the International Journal of Endocrinology demonstrated that using red light therapy in the morning helps to regulate levels of leptin and ghrelin, especially when someone is sleep-deprived. Both leptin and ghrelin influence hunger and food intake; regulating these levels can help to improve weight management.
   • A study [29] published in Photomedicine and Laser Surgery in 2017 compared 28 people using red light therapy for four weeks with a control group of 25 people who used a placebo. The study followed the participants during the study and for two weeks afterward, finding that the treatments reduced the circumference of the participants’ hips, waists, and upper abdomens.
   • 2015, a study [30] was published in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine. A controlled study with 64 participants demonstrated that red light therapy and exercise improved weight loss efforts. This study also demonstrated positive metabolic effects for a population group with metabolic impairments.
   • A 2023 study [31] published in Scientific Reports used a randomized, controlled study design to evaluate the effects of red light therapy on an obesity-related condition. While the goal of the study was not to specifically address weight itself, it did successfully demonstrate that using red light therapy treated coagulation problems associated with obesity, providing potential health benefits for those who are overweight in addition to promoting weight loss.
   • An important study [32] published in Lasers in Medical Science in 2016 proposed that red light therapy impacted weight loss by facilitating the movement of lipids rather than by destroying fat cells. This study also found a high rate of side effects when using a red light therapy device designed to attach directly to the skin and noted decreased efficacy when a smaller area was exposed to the light source.
   • A Lasers in Medical Science study [33] published in 2022 evaluated and contrasted 15 studies examining red light therapy as a weight loss method. This meta-analysis found that this therapy showed promise as a low-risk and effective method of reducing localized fat. The study also found that existing research did not show that red light therapy had a meaningful effect on lipid levels in the blood. However, the researchers also pointed out that this may not mean that red light therapy does not affect lipid levels, which could be due to the small sample sizes of existing studies.
   • Another meta-analysis published in 2021 [34] in Advances in Obesity, Weight Management & Control found that existing research shows that red light therapy has “considerable promise” as a treatment method for obesity. The same study also found that red light therapy could be especially beneficial as a treatment option for conditions associated with obesity, such as inflammation or diabetes.
   • In 2018, a study [35] was published in Lasers in Medical Science that followed four months of red light therapy treatments, carefully monitoring fourteen different parameters. While the treatment and control groups experienced positive changes over the study period, the red light therapy group demonstrated greater change than the control group. Additionally, the treatment group showed reduced interleukin-6 and increased WNT5 signaling, two biomarker changes that did not occur in the control group.
   • The Journal of Physical Therapy Science published a study [36] in 2017 that demonstrated reductions in abdominal circumference, abdominal fat percentage, fat mass, and body mass index when a red light therapy belt was used to supplement exercise efforts. This controlled study showed that red light therapy could offer benefits as an exercise augmentation tool.
   • A 2016 study [37] published in BMC Obesity found that red light therapy augmented weight loss that occurred when using lorcaserin, a weight loss drug that has since been removed from the market due to safety risks. While lorcaserin is no longer used as a weight-loss medication, this study demonstrated that red light therapy coupled with a weight-loss drug can be more effective than weight-loss medicines alone.
   • A Lasers in Medical Science article published in 2015 presented a study [38] following the effects of red light therapy in obese adults undergoing aerobic plus resistance training. The study showed that red light therapy reduced inflammatory biomarkers and augmented weight loss efforts.
   • One older study [39], published in 2002 by Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, used low-powered red light lasers to treat tissue samples of fatty tissues removed during liposuction. This study demonstrated that the treatment resulted in adipose cells (cells that store fat) releasing almost all the fat they contained, causing them to deflate. This early study supported further experimentation using red light therapy to promote weight loss.

   • Research [40] published in 2015 in the Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B used a controlled methodology to show that red light therapy augmented exercise-based weight loss efforts and decreased cardiometabolic risk. The researchers suggested that red light therapy could augment weight loss and help reduce the risk of being overweight during these efforts.

While promising, red light therapy should be viewed as a complementary tool for weight loss. For optimal results, it is best used in combination with diet and exercise.

Frequently Asked Questions about Red Light Therapy

How many Red Light Therapy sessions do I need for weight loss?
Current studies suggest that at least six sessions of Red Light Therapy are necessary to achieve optimal weight loss results.

How does Red Light Therapy work?
RLT promotes the photoactivation of cytochrome c oxidase in fat cells, releasing stored lipids. This process is enhanced by using a Red Light Therapy Bed.

Conclusion: Why Red Light Therapy is a Promising Solution for Weight Loss

Red Light Therapy is emerging as an innovative, non-invasive option for those looking to lose weight and reduce cellulite without surgery or downtime. By targeting fat cells and promoting the natural breakdown of lipids, RLT can be an effective component of a comprehensive weight management plan.

To experience the benefits of Red Light Therapy, find an experienced provider with the latest technology, such as an ARRC LED Red Light Therapy Bed.