Body fat: Where does it go when you lose weight?

Where does body fat go when you lose weight?

- Elisa / Texas

Answer

When you consume fewer calories than your body needs, your body turns to fat for energy. Your fat cells (triglycerides) provide the fuel for this energy.

Through a series of complex metabolic processes, triglycerides are broken down into two different components — glycerol and fatty acids — which are absorbed into your liver, kidney and muscle. Here, these components are further broken down by chemical processes that ultimately produce energy for your body.

The heat generated through these activities is used to help maintain your body temperature. The waste products that result are water and carbon dioxide. You excrete water primarily in urine and sweat and carbon dioxide in air exhaled from your lungs.

MORE ON THIS TOPIC

• Counting calories: Getting back to weight-loss basics

RELATED

• Slow metabolism: Is it to blame for weight gain?
• Fat but fit: Can I still be healthy?
• Lipovarin: An effective weight-loss supplement?
• Weight-loss hypnosis: Does it work?
• Weight loss: Better to cut calories or exercise more?
• Fast weight loss: What's wrong with it?
• Metabolism: What's the best way to boost it?
• Walking: Is it enough for weight loss?
• Weight loss: 6 strategies for success
• Weight-loss tip: First, make sure you're ready
• Tool: BMI calculator
• Tool: Calorie calculator
• Metabolism and weight loss: How you burn calories
• Weight-loss goals: 10 tips for success
• Podcast: Social, emotional and psychological barriers to weight loss