Does Vigorously Shaking Your Body Make You Lose Weight?

Vibrating belt machines were all the rage in the 1960s and 1970s for those who did not desire to engage in traditional exercise. The belts have since evolved into vibration machines, which are meant to help improve muscle tone and remove fat. They work for weight loss when used properly, combined with aerobic exercise and a healthy diet.

Aerobic exercise is an important component of a weight loss regimen. (Image: IT Stock/Polka Dot/Getty Images)

What Vigorously Shaking Does

A vibration plate is a machine -- found in many gyms -- on which you can do a variety of exercises while it moves. Your body vibrates, which activates muscle contractions to build muscle mass. Whichever exercise you do on the machine is intensified. Vibration machines also stress the bones as you would through weight-bearing activities such as running and walking.

You Can Lose Weight

A 2009 study headed by Dirk Vissers of the University of Antwerp found that overweight and obese people who exercised on vibration plate machines and stuck with a healthy diet were more successful losing weight than those who dieted and exercised in more traditional exercise programs that did not include the vibration plate. Researchers noted that people must learn how to exercise using the device to get the most benefit. Simply standing on the machine won't produce results.