How does our body decide where to burn fat from when we workout?
In: Biology
Studies on targeted fat loss date back to as far as the early 1970s, when University of California researchers compared the limbs of tennis players.
They discovered that despite the athletes being one-arm dominant, the subcutaneous (top layer) fat percentage between limbs was the same.
The University of Connecticut conducted a study in 2007 using resistance training and got a similar result.
Where your body loses fat from first comes down to your sex, genetics and body shape, explains exercise physiologist Brooke Norgate.
(Australian ABC explanation here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/health/2016-02-23/weight-loss-can-you-target-certain-areas/7193094 )
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Somehow, both the other answers are misinformed.
Your body definitely does not burn fat ‘closest to exercised area’ and it definitely does not burn fat evenly.
It’s simply a mix of genetics and also affected by biological sex.
Your metabolism follows a logical pattern determined by a series of not easily summarised factors. Essentially, you can’t control where to burn fat from, but your body will follow its unique pattern. If you know your pattern of fat gain/loss, then it’s at least predictable.
For example, youve heard the term “that’s going straight to my hips”. Well ironically, it’s quite true. The types of carbs one might be eating when making that comment actually does affect where the body chooses to store that excess energy (the hips, usually). And in turn, your body will try to use that pathway to that deposit when you next need it and if it’s sufficient.
It doesn’t. “Targeted fat loss” is not a real thing.
When you exercise, fat cells release molecules of fatty acid into your bloodstream. The fatty acids are released from fat cells throughout the body.
For example, if you do sit down cycling where only your legs move, body fat from all over your body gets utilized, not just from your legs.
You can’t burn fat from specific locations. If you work out a specific muscle group you’ll just gain muscle in that area making the appearance of less fat but not losing fat from just that one area
Most answer correctly say you cant target fat loss, however it isnt fair to say “it doesnt.” Your body decides where to burn fat based on your genetics and hormones. Your body will have it’s own preference for where to store fat and where to burn it from.
Aside from the comments about targeted fat loss being unobserved, the same goes for fat accumulation; it just goes all over. On the other hand, if you have liposuction your body will still deposit fat but it the areas where fat cells remain.
location of fat deposits are as unique as any other human trait. Someone is tall, short, blonde, big nosed just like they may gain weight around their ass or stomach, chin or breasts—all unique to the person.
For a 5-year old:
Your body loses fat like pulling a small drain at the bottom of the bathtub. The amount of water in the tub decreases from everywhere, not just the area with the drain.
Your body stores fat like filling up a bathtub with water. The bottom of the tub is not perfectly flat, so the ‘foot’ of the bath will have an inch of liquid before the head gets even a little.
In this way, some areas of your body may be more prone to fill up first with fat but it goes everywhere eventually, and when burning fat it will pull from everywhere and some pesky spots last.
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