Repeated Far Infrared Sauna Bathing in Adults With Obesity

NCT ID: NCT07158047

Last Updated: 2025-09-22

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

20 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2022-03-07

Study Completion Date

2026-03-31

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

This is a clinical trial to determine if 30 sessions of far infrared sauna bathing can improve cardiovascular and metabolic function in adults with obesity.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

Obesity can increase the risk for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Lifestyle interventions are needed to reduce this risk. Far infrared saunas are one form of heat therapy that may help reduce these risks, however, there is limited research within a population with obesity. It is hypothesized that repeated far infrared sauna bathing will improve cardiovascular and metabolic function in adults with obesity.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Obesity (Disorder)

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Time control versus heat therapy group
Primary Study Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

Heat therapy

Group will undergo 30 sessions of heat therapy over approximately 10 weeks. Sessions will require participants to sit in a far infrared sauna for up to 45 min for 3 to 4 times per week.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Heat therapy

Intervention Type OTHER

30 sessions of far infrared sauna bathing (45-60C) for up to 45 min

Time control group

No participation in sauna bathing. Maintain lifestyle habits for approximately 10 weeks.

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

Heat therapy

30 sessions of far infrared sauna bathing (45-60C) for up to 45 min

Intervention Type OTHER

Other Intervention Names

Discover alternative or legacy names that may be used to describe the listed interventions across different sources.

sauna bathing

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* BMI between 30-45 kg/m2

Exclusion Criteria

* Diagnosed diabetes
* Greater than stage 2 hypertension
* Coagulopathies
* Allergies to lidocaine
* Medications affecting blood pressure
* Blood clotting, and blood sugars
* Smoker
* Pregnant
* Desiring to become pregnant in the near future
* Breastfeeding
* BMI less than 30
* BMI greater than 45 kg/m2
* Exercising \> 120 min/week
* Taking medications (other than hormone contraceptives)
* Not willing to stop taking medications (other than hormone contraceptives) for 24 hours before testing days
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

59 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

University of Oregon

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Christopher T Minson, PhD

Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.

Christopher T Minson, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Oregon

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

University of Oregon

Eugene, Oregon, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

United States

Central Contacts

Reach out to these primary contacts for questions about participation or study logistics.

Christopher T Minson, PhD

Role: CONTACT

541-346-7583

John R Halliwill, PhD

Role: CONTACT

541-346-7591

Facility Contacts

Find local site contact details for specific facilities participating in the trial.

Christopher T Minson, PhD

Role: primary

5413467583

John R Halliwill, PhD

Role: backup

5413467591

References

Explore related publications, articles, or registry entries linked to this study.

Masuda A, Koga Y, Hattanmaru M, Minagoe S, Tei C. The effects of repeated thermal therapy for patients with chronic pain. Psychother Psychosom. 2005;74(5):288-94. doi: 10.1159/000086319.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 16088266 (View on PubMed)

Kihara T, Biro S, Imamura M, Yoshifuku S, Takasaki K, Ikeda Y, Otuji Y, Minagoe S, Toyama Y, Tei C. Repeated sauna treatment improves vascular endothelial and cardiac function in patients with chronic heart failure. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2002 Mar 6;39(5):754-9. doi: 10.1016/s0735-1097(01)01824-1.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 11869837 (View on PubMed)

Kihara T, Biro S, Ikeda Y, Fukudome T, Shinsato T, Masuda A, Miyata M, Hamasaki S, Otsuji Y, Minagoe S, Akiba S, Tei C. Effects of repeated sauna treatment on ventricular arrhythmias in patients with chronic heart failure. Circ J. 2004 Dec;68(12):1146-51. doi: 10.1253/circj.68.1146.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 15564698 (View on PubMed)

Fuchs CJ, Betz MW, Petrick HL, Weber J, Senden JM, Hendriks FK, Bels JLM, van Loon LJC, Snijders T. Repeated passive heat treatment increases muscle tissue capillarization, but does not affect postprandial muscle protein synthesis rates in healthy older adults. J Physiol. 2025 Jan;603(1):167-186. doi: 10.1113/JP286986. Epub 2024 Oct 7.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 39373667 (View on PubMed)

Ely BR, Francisco MA, Halliwill JR, Bryan SD, Comrada LN, Larson EA, Brunt VE, Minson CT. Heat therapy reduces sympathetic activity and improves cardiovascular risk profile in women who are obese with polycystic ovary syndrome. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2019 Nov 1;317(5):R630-R640. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00078.2019. Epub 2019 Sep 4.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 31483156 (View on PubMed)

Ely BR, Clayton ZS, McCurdy CE, Pfeiffer J, Needham KW, Comrada LN, Minson CT. Heat therapy improves glucose tolerance and adipose tissue insulin signaling in polycystic ovary syndrome. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2019 Jul 1;317(1):E172-E182. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00549.2018. Epub 2019 May 28.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 31136202 (View on PubMed)

Brunt VE, Jeckell AT, Ely BR, Howard MJ, Thijssen DH, Minson CT. Acute hot water immersion is protective against impaired vascular function following forearm ischemia-reperfusion in young healthy humans. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2016 Dec 1;311(6):R1060-R1067. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00301.2016. Epub 2016 Oct 5.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 27707723 (View on PubMed)

Brunt VE, Eymann TM, Francisco MA, Howard MJ, Minson CT. Passive heat therapy improves cutaneous microvascular function in sedentary humans via improved nitric oxide-dependent dilation. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2016 Sep 1;121(3):716-23. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00424.2016. Epub 2016 Jul 14.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 27418688 (View on PubMed)

Behzadi P, Ravanelli N, Gravel H, Barry H, Debray A, Chaseling GK, Jacquemet V, Neagoe PE, Nigam A, Carpentier AC, Sirois MG, Gagnon D. Acute effect of passive heat exposure on markers of cardiometabolic function in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2022 May 1;132(5):1154-1166. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00800.2021. Epub 2022 Mar 24.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 35323077 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

19TPA34890033

Identifier Type: OTHER_GRANT

Identifier Source: secondary_id

07312020.034

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

More Related Trials

Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.

Strength Training for Obesity Prevention
NCT00030160 COMPLETED PHASE2
Weight Loss Clinical Decision Support
NCT05198765 ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING NA
Journey to Better Health
NCT02938312 COMPLETED NA