Thread: Questions about Body Fat

When we lose weight, where does it go?
What happens to your body fat?
How does your body decide which area of fat to burn first?
In contrast, how does your body decide which area to put on fat first?
How much body fat should we have?

I have been curious about these questions for a while now and I'm sure I'm not the only one. I thought maybe you can all shed me some light

Good questions kathy. I will answer the first two questions:

When we lose weight, where does it go?
What happens to your body fat?

This is what I've read from Mayo Clinic: When you burn calories, your body will use stored fat for energy (triglycerides). This will cause fat cells to shrink.Triglycerides are then broken down into fatty acids and glycerol, which are absorbed by your muscle tissues, kidneys and liver. They will then be further broken down by chemical processes and will later be converted as energy for your body.

Same with food I guess.. It goes though a lot of chemical process and before they are absorbed by the body.. Are there waste products for fat as well? Is it in form or toxins?

How much body fat should we have?

Let me answer this question.. This is a lot easier.. lol

Healthy body fat percentage for men is 3–5% in men, and 8–12% for women

Thanks mikaela and sasa.. I know understand those 3 questions. What about the other 2? Can anyone share their thoughts and answers as well?

Healthy body fat percentage for men is 3–5% in men, and 8–12% for women

How much are these percentages if they are converted to pounds? Is it based on body weight?

Body fat distributions varies from person to person. For women, areas like thighs and buttocks are the first areas to gain fat. As for men, it's around the mid section. For weight loss, it also varies. Normally, the most recent areas to build up fat are the first ones to disappear. In this case, if you're stomach gains fat first, that's the last place for fat to disappear.

Yeah, I think I read that somewhere too.. That's why exercise on specific areas doesn't work right?

I thought so.. I was thinking the same thing.. Exercise on specific areas has its benefit too. I gues it helps burn fat but not too much..

Thanks mikaela.. That was very helpful.. I have to admit that I don't entirely know how body fat is being distributed but your explanation helped me understand how it works.