Summary: In a small crossover trial, a single 12-minute whole-body photobiomodulation session acutely raised resting energy expenditure by 9.3% in women with obesity versus sham, without changing substrate use, but the effect was measured only immediately after one session.
PICO Summary
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Population | 16 women with obesity (BMI 36 ± 4) and 16 sedentary normal-weight women (crossover, within-subject). |
| Intervention | Whole-body photobiomodulation, red (633–660 nm) and near-infrared (850–940 nm) light, front and back, 12 minutes. |
| Comparison | Sham stimulation of equal duration and positioning without active light. |
| Outcome | Resting energy expenditure rose 9.3% post-PBM in women with obesity (1486 to 1624 kcal/day; p<0.001), no change in respiratory exchange ratio. Reduced perceived exertion and improved flexibility in both groups; skin temperature rose. No adverse effects. |
Photobiomodulation and resting metabolism in obesity
Crossover RCT · women with obesity · single session
A single 12-minute photobiomodulation session acutely raised resting energy expenditure by 9.3% (138 kcal/day) versus sham, with no change in substrate use. The effect was measured immediately after one session, so durability and any weight effect are unknown.
Expert Commentary
The mitochondrial rationale, red and near-infrared light absorbed by cytochrome c oxidase to lift ATP turnover, is real and well described in physiotherapy and dermatology, so a transient bump in resting expenditure is biologically plausible rather than fanciful. My verdict, though, is firmly hypothesis-generating, because the gap between this finding and anything I could offer a patient is enormous. This is sixteen women, the measurement was taken immediately after a single session, and a 138 kcal-per-day rise in resting expenditure that lasts an unknown length of time is not weight loss. Without repeated exposure, body-composition data, or any hard endpoint, I cannot say it does anything durable, and no guideline endorses it for weight management. Can I use this with my patients? No, not as a weight-loss intervention. If a patient is using red-light therapy for other reasons it appears low-risk aside from a transient skin-temperature rise, but I would be candid that the metabolic case is unproven and that diet and activity remain the substance. I would want an adequately powered trial with sustained energy-balance and body-composition endpoints before saying more.
References
De Nardi M, Allemano S, Buratti M, et al. Photobiomodulation acutely augments resting metabolism in women with obesity. Nutrients. 2025;17(21):3357. doi:10.3390/nu17213357