Recently, some netizens posted on social media recommending others to “sunbathe their backs” during the hottest days of summer in an attempt to lose weight without spending money. Some claimed to have lost some weight after persistently “sunbathing” for a month. However, there were also reports of users experiencing diarrhea and heatstroke after trying this weight-loss method. Some traditional Chinese medicine experts mentioned that “sunbathing” has certain health benefits but does not have a weight loss effect, and the duration of each “sunbathing” session should be kept within half an hour. Nutritionists also stated that “sunbathing” is one way for the body to increase vitamin D levels but solely relying on it for weight loss is not effective.
Netizens wonder if sunbathing during the hottest days can really lead to weight loss.
As the hottest days approach, many citizens are looking for ways to beat the heat. Recently, some netizens have posted pictures online claiming that sunbathing their backs in the sunlight on the grass in parks can help with weight loss. They mentioned that this method is cost-free and produces significant results, with one user saying, “The best time for ‘sunbathing’ is during the hottest days of the year; missing it means waiting for another year.” On July 13, a netizen posted on social media that they found sunbathing effective for weight loss during the hot days, mentioning a significant weight loss after persistently sunbathing for over a month last year.
However, some users mentioned that after sunbathing during one midday of the hottest days, they did not experience weight loss but felt unwell and had diarrhea instead.
Users experience heatstroke symptoms after trying sunbathing for weight loss, while some mentioned only sweating without weight loss and decided to give up.
A user who tried sunbathing for weight loss told a reporter from the Beijing Youth Daily that she came across a post on social media detailing how to lose weight by sunbathing and decided to give it a try finding it an easy weight loss method. She even purchased a set of clothes specifically for sunbathing that expose the back area.
“I went for sunbathing on July 11 afternoon when the sunlight was very strong, thinking it would be more effective. But after about half an hour of sunbathing, I felt extremely nauseous and had the urge to vomit,” the user said. She visited a hospital where she was diagnosed with heatstroke. The doctor advised her against sunbathing as it might not necessarily result in weight loss. She hoped to save money and lose weight through this method but ended up throwing away the sunbathing clothes after using them once, incurring a loss of hundreds of yuan after medical expenses.
Another user mentioned that she saw claims about sunbathing for weight loss during the hottest days last year but found no significant weight loss effects after trying it and thus gave up this year.
Traditional Chinese medicine experts advise that the duration of each sunbathing session should not exceed half an hour and it is crucial to choose a suitable time rather than exposing oneself during the harshest sun rays at noon, recommending morning or late afternoon hours. The experts emphasize that longer sun exposure does not yield better results. Lastly, they highlight that sunbathing does not have to be limited to hot days and can be beneficial for the elderly during winter for health reasons.
Professor Fan Zhihong from China Agricultural University and a member of the Chinese Nutrition Society stated that from a nutritional perspective, the skin needs exposure to sunlight to absorb vitamin D. In this regard, sunbathing is a way to increase vitamin D levels in the body. However, weight loss aims to reduce body fat, and relying solely on sunbathing for weight loss is ineffective.
Fan Zhihong suggested that to achieve weight loss, one must first avoid unreasonable diets, establish regular exercise habits, adequate sleep, and stress reduction, as these factors contribute to successful weight loss.
(Beijing Youth Daily reporter Qu Chang intern Guan Yino Chen Rui)
(Source: Beijing Youth Daily)
