We’ve been asked a lot whether KAATSU can help with weight loss. While KAATSU is not a weight loss device, the answer is still yes. Clear as mud, I know, so let’s dive into the explanation.
Overall Weight Loss = Fat Loss + Lean Muscle Loss
We call changing how and what you eat to lose weight a “diet”. I prefer the term “way of eating” – mostly because it has the acronym “WOE” – which is how most people feel when they’re on a diet.
When people lose weight from dieting, it is normal for 10~25% of the weight loss to be lean muscle mass. That is, if you lose 10 lbs, up to 2.5 lbs of that could be lean muscle mass. If you lose 40 lbs, you could lose up to 10 lbs of lean muscle mass. Humans naturally lose muscle starting around the age of 30, a process called sarcopenia. The more muscle you lose, the more risk you have for becoming frail, for falling, or for breaking bones. Losing muscle mass can also contribute to lower mobility, worse heart health, breathing problems, increased insulin resistance, and overall shorter life expectancy.
By the way, when people lose weight using GLP-1 medications (think semaglutide or liraglutide, also known as Ozempic or Saxenda), the amount of lean muscle lost has been reported to be as high as 40~60%. In other words, for every 10 lbs of weight loss, between 4~6 lbs of that was lean muscle mass. While losing a lot of weight using these medications has other health benefits, I worry about the consequences of losing so much lean muscle mass.
How does KAATSU fit into the weight loss picture?
Research has shown that resistance training can prevent people from losing muscle during weight loss. The challenge: people don’t like doing resistance training. Especially those who are needing to lose weight.
KAATSU can help people prevent muscle loss during dieting without needing to do very strenuous resistance training. If people are diligent, they can probably even gain lean muscle mass while dieting. Has there been research on this? No – but I do have some personal experience with this.
I Lost Less Muscle Than “Normal”
From October 2023 to October 2024, I lost 40 lbs. I switched my WOE last October, and in May of this year, I hired a coach who tweaked things a little further. I did some limited resistance training – around 2 months of exercise twice per week, so 16 sessions total during May and June. I also used KAATSU two or three times per day, doing 6 sets of Cycle mode on my arms followed by another 6 sets on my legs.
Based on the amount of weight I lost, between 4~10 lbs of that “should have been” lean muscle mass. However, according to my body composition scans, I lost only 1 pound. While it’s possible my resistance training was a factor, I didn’t do it very long. The only thing I did regularly was KAATSU. I wore it while I worked (sitting, or standing at my desk), while doing chores, or while streaming my favourite shows.
How can this be? There is some evidence suggesting that the engorgement of muscle fibers with blood and cellular swelling can contribute to muscle growth. KAATSU use definitely causes this, whether one is working out or not. It’s possible that KAATSU can help people maintain muscle even without regular resistance training. That could explain my experience. I’ve also heard from KAATSU users how they feel stronger and have grown muscle using KAATSU without having to work out heavily.
So, is KAATSU a weight loss product? No. However, it can help people maintain their lean muscle mass, which in turn will leave them healthier. I think people who are using or thinking of using GLP-1 medications to help with their weight loss goals should seriously consider adding KAATSU to help stem the higher-than-average loss of lean muscle mass these drugs are reported to contribute to.
If you have any questions about KAATSU, please feel free to reach out. Thanks for reading!
Disclaimer: KAATSU protocols have not been evaluated by Health Canada. KAATSU is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease and its use should be evaluated by your own physician before use.