Three main reasons

Firstly, it does make you sweat more, which reduces your weight (temporarily). It’s common for people in sports that require a weigh-in to do this and also partially dehydrate themselves before they are weighed to make their weight class.

Secondly, it’s done by people trying to lose weight in general who have heard about the first group and incorrectly believe inducing sweat this way will speed up their weight loss. The exact opposite is true: by intentionally overheating yourself, you actually reduce the effectiveness of your workout, making your fitness goals harder to achieve in the long run. There are tons of myths like this that seem intuitive but hold a lot of people back.

Thirdly, people are just self-conscious sometimes and cover up their body

Agree with others but would add “pump cover,” especially if it looks like they’ve been at it a while.

Lifters often wear a hoodie or an oversized shirt for their warmup sets. Once their muscles look slightly bigger (pumped) due to increased tone and circulation, off goes the pump cover.

This grand reveal is usually for the benefit of other lifters in the vicinity and isn’t necessarily sexual in nature.

Edit: not judging anyone. I do it too.

I always thought it was to induce sweating. Never bothered looking but I also always thought that’s what we call them “sweats”

I used to do it because i don’t like showing much skin. Its not warm clothes perse but a full ankle covering pant and a hoodie .

I run cold. So, so cold, all the time, and gyms are kept extra cold for obvious reasons. Unless I’m doing cardio, I’m freezing without wearing a sweatshirt and pants.

Before someone asks, yes, my thyroid is normal.

For me personally I start in a sweatshirt but once I’m warmed up I usually take it off. I feel like it helps me warm up a little quicker. I go to a climbing gym vs a regular gym so maybe that’s why.

No pain no gain no loss