The latest weight loss trend claims that you can use a hairdryer to melt belly fat

Doctors have slammed the latest ridiculous weight loss trend that claims you can use a hairdryer to melt away belly fat.

Website Brightside - which shares ideas and advice - suggested the ridiculous method that involves aiming a hot hairdryer at your tummy or problem area.

Supposedly, this will induce a sweat to "get rid of unnecessary liquid in the body."

According to The Sun, the article, "10 Quick Tips to Lose Weight if You're A Lazy Bones" also lists that hot compresses (used to treat aches and pains) can be used to "influence the size of particular parts of your body" when used in conjunction with the heat from the hair tool.

The article suggests: "To increase the effect and keep your compress hot for longer, you can use a hairdryer."

Brightside also shares a YouTube video to promote the method.

"12 Tips on How to Lose Weight Without Strict Diets" advises people to "grab a hairdryer" and not to bother "torturing yourself at the gym" to work up a sweat.

Concerningly, the video has amassed more than 1.1 million views since its release in June 2018 - and professionals have now chimed in to warn viewers of the associated dangers.

Experts say the bizarre method can cause second-degree burns.

According to London plastic surgery specialist Christopher Inglefield, the fat-burning routine risks serious skin damage and won't assist with dropping any weight.

"This will not have a satisfactory outcome, yet carries a risk of burning the abdomen," Inglefield explained to The Sun.

"To make matters worse, this could, in turn, cause blistering of the skin which can cause infection. And in extreme cases, this could lead to necrosis, which is death of the skin cells."

This article was first published on nzherald.co.nz and is republished here with permission.