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.