Jelly Roll’s 200-Pound Weight Loss Sparks Heated Debate Over Sauna Use

Jelly Roll is heating things up, literally!

The country music star recently revealed that daily sauna sessions have been a huge part of his jaw-dropping 200-pound weight loss journey.

And now, Jelly Roll fans are asking if sitting in a sauna can really help you shed pounds?

In mid-April, while still deep into training, the "Need A Favor" singer opened up to PEOPLE, saying he was "doing 2 to 3 miles a day, four to six days a week. I’m doing 20 to 30 minutes in the sauna, six minutes in a cold plunge every day. I’m eating healthy right now.”

"I’ve been really kicking a--, man," he said at the time. "I’m probably down 70-something pounds."

But it’s not just exercise and healthy eating fueling Jelly Roll’s transformation. Sauna specialists are weighing in, too.

In an email sent to The Blast, Benny Rehwald, founder at Topture and an expert in sauna therapy, said, "While saunas aren’t a replacement for exercise, they can be a powerful complement to a wellness routine. The heat stimulates cardiovascular activity, boosts circulation, and promotes recovery, all of which support overall health."

Rehwald also noted that while you won’t melt away pounds overnight, "the elevated heart rate and sweating can contribute to modest calorie expenditure, making sauna sessions a useful addition to a calorie-deficient strategy."

Plus, according to the Topture founder, the heat has a natural appetite-suppressing effect "similar to how appetite often decreases during hot summer days."

Infrared saunas, in particular, seem to pack a punch.

According to a Binghamton University study, participants who used an infrared sauna three times a week for 30 minutes shaved off an average of 4% body fat over four months, without changing their diet or exercise routine!

Some other studies estimate individuals can burn between 495 to 1,125 calories during a 60-minute infrared sauna session, depending on body composition and heat tolerance.

Beyond the burn, sauna sessions may also help curb cravings.

High temps have been shown to suppress appetite, thanks to the body working overtime to cool down, which could explain why Jelly Roll feels more in control these days. Some studies found that heat stress may even stimulate the production of heat shock proteins and boost mitochondrial function, potentially giving the metabolism a long-term lift.

Spending time in a sauna can make you feel less hungry immediately afterward, which could be helpful if you're trying to avoid mindless snacking or manage portion sizes.

However, other studies have said it's important to remember this effect is usually short-lived. As your body returns to normal temperature, your appetite will likely return, too.

Experts caution that while saunas can complement weight loss, they’re not a substitute for old-school methods like exercise and a balanced diet.

Most of the immediate weight loss after a sauna session is simply water weight, not fat loss. Once you rehydrate, that weight typically returns. Plus, while the calorie burn in a sauna is real, it's nowhere near the amount you burn through proper exercise and healthy eating. For long-term, sustainable weight loss, you need a combination of regular physical activity, balanced nutrition, and overall healthy habits.

Plus, people with a higher BMI need to be extra careful about dehydration risks, and anyone considering regular sauna use should consult a healthcare professional first.

In a revealing November 2024 interview with PEOPLE, Jelly Roll admitted that his biggest battle wasn't just physical, it was emotional.

"The battle was with the food addiction, changing the way I’ve looked at food for the last 39 years," he shared. "I’ve never had a healthy relationship with food, so that was the hard part. But once you get into that discipline and commitment, it’s like an avalanche. Once that little snowball started rolling, it was on its way."

“Nobody in my house ever had [a healthy relationship with food], so that was the hard part, really fighting that demon at first and getting into that discipline and that commitment,” he added.

And judging by the results, Jelly Roll is on fire, both in the sauna and in life!