A £100 red light body wrap from skincare brand This Works failed to reduce a mother's 71cm waist circumference after a four-week trial, despite company claims that the device can shave 3cm off the waistline.
The device, which features a removable elasticated Velcro strap, did significantly smooth post-pregnancy crepey skin on the abdomen when worn three times a week for 20 minutes.
The month-long trial was conducted by a mother of two who has worked as a beauty editor for two decades, testing the product ahead of a holiday. Following the manufacturer's recommended routine, she wore the belt for 20 minutes three times weekly across four weeks. Before starting, she measured her waist at 71cm, which met UK Government guidance stating a healthy waist circumference should measure less than half of a person's height. After four weeks of sitting on the sofa wearing the belt, her waist measurement remained unchanged at exactly 71cm.
The lack of waist reduction comes despite research from scientists at Johns Hopkins hospital in the United States suggesting that shrinking waist circumference could offer greater protection against life-threatening diseases than overall body weight loss, following studies linking a large waist to increased health risks.
Light Therapy Technology and Market Expansion
LED masks, which beam specific wavelengths of light onto the skin, are widely used by celebrities and beauty experts to reduce inflammation, fine lines, and wrinkles. The emitted light stimulates skin cells to repair damage and produce collagen, the structural protein responsible for plumping the skin.
Small scientific studies indicate that wearing a quality mask combining red light and near-infrared light several times a week boosts collagen production, improves skin pigmentation, softens fine lines, and reduces inflammation. Facial mask users typically require at least eight weeks of consistent use before observing complexion-smoothing, glowier results. High-profile advocates of facial light therapy include television presenter Trinny Woodall and actress Jennifer Aniston, 57.
Beauty tech manufacturers have recently expanded light therapy from facial care into body contouring. Retailers now market body wraps fitted with thousands of tiny coloured lights designed to tone, tighten, and shrink the abdomen. Other products on the market include LED sleeping bags sold by exercise recovery specialists ThermoLab, and a light-up yoga mat sold by online beauty retailer Cultbeauty for £1,159.
Fat Metabolism and Expert Cautions
Skincare brand This Works claims its £100 red light body wrap can reduce the appearance of stretch marks, crepey skin, and sagging abdominal tissue common after pregnancy. The company stated that a trial it conducted showed users experienced a significant change to their waistline within one month.
Leading aesthetics doctor Dr Brendan Khong explained the biological mechanism behind light-based body devices. "Both red and near-infrared light is thought to activate the pores in fat cells, causing fat to leak into the surrounding tissue," Dr Khong said. "These are then processed and cleared through the body’s normal fat metabolism process."
However, Dr Khong urged caution regarding claims about body shape transformation. "The fat cells shrink rather than get destroyed. So the claims about reducing waist size relate to the size of the fat cells, rather than actually changing the shape of the body," he said. He also noted limitations in the evidence supporting the product: "The trial the company ran only involved 20 people. There needs to be more robust clinical studies for me to be confident of a 3cm waist reduction."
Practical Application and Future Trends
The body wrap consists of a wide, flexible LED panel attached to an elasticated Velcro band that covers most of the abdomen. The tester noted that because of its width, wearing the belt required half lying down, making evening television viewing the most practical routine. The device features an automatic timer that switches off after the 20-minute session.
Although the wrap failed to deliver the claimed 3cm waist reduction, the tester observed a gradual smoothing of abdominal skin and a significant reduction in crepiness over the four-week period, prompting her to continue using the device for skin texture improvement.
Dr Khong predicted that body-targeted light devices will become increasingly prevalent in the beauty industry. "We’ve already seen red light gadgets for skincare, biohacking and hair growth, so body contouring is a predictable expansion," Dr Khong said.
