Health Tech: Shoes that help you to lose weight
The Thin Ice brand raised USD300,000 on the web via crowdfunding to make soft soles that make losing weight effortless. Was it worth it?
While some sought to raise USD15,000 through crowfunding, Internet users have already raised USD306,000. The crowdfunded Canadian brand Thin Ice, which is defined as the first line of clothing that can burn calories without doing absolutely anything, is currently promising to burn 500 to 1,000 calories more each day, just from using their products, and in particular, their soft soles.
SOLES TO COOL THE BODY
The idea behind Thin Ice is relatively simple. The products ‘trick’ the body into believing that the outdoor temperature is lower than it actually is. In response, the body burns fat and calorie expenditure for warmth. How does this little magic trick work? The engineers behind the project have designed soles that cool the feet thanks to microchips. The feet will be riddled with thermal receptors (that is why they are often cold), which send a message to the brain that instructs the body to tap into its fat stores to make up for the body temperature.
According to the creators of Thin Ice, the cold feeling at the toes fades in seconds: “A bit like when you swim, just the right amount of time to warm up.” Coming soon is the Thin Ice jacket, which uses the same technology for the upper body. A health app is required, connected to your smartphone to tell you the number of calories burned, allowing you to adjust the temperature of your clothes and, of course, simply recharge the integrated micro battery for use again and again. It’s discreet and requires no effort. Would this finally be the recipe to losing weight?
WHY WE MIGHT NOT REALLY NEED THEM
Lowering the body temperature actually results in an additional energy expenditure, and therefore a loss of calories. Adam Paulin, the sports coach who designed the device, explains that this is the solution for people who want to lose weight but don’t want to exercise or play sports. Because to them, being thin is ideal, but in actuality being in shape is better.
Sports and exercise help to develop a muscular heart and reduces the risk of cardiovascular problems, while preventing depression, hypertension, osteoporosis and diabetes. And in addition, it helps to forge a toned silhouette. To our knowledge, no other accessories or technology are able to do a job that well. In short, it is better to invest in a good pair of sneakers and maybe even an iconic pair of shoes to suit your mood. These should cost you lesser than any of the aforementioned technology, and produce longer lasting results.
Maureen Diament and Nur Syazana H.
