Where Does Fat Go When You Lose Weight? The Answer May Surprise You!

It’s a natural question to ponder: where does the fat go when you lose weight? Does it get converted into energy? Do we flush it down the toilet or do fat cells become redistributed in our bodies as muscle?

As seemingly plausible as all of these theories sound, they’re scientifically impossible. These are common misconceptions that are not only believed by the general public – they’re common among medical professionals, dietitians and personal trainers as well! Fat cannot be converted into energy because that defies the law of conservation of matter. It is impossible for fat to convert itself into muscle and it doesn’t end up in a bowel movement.

It’s also important to note that when an individual loses weight, they may be referring to fat loss, muscle loss, or water weight loss. Stepping on a scale doesn’t reflect what kind of weight is being lost, it only records a number. Fat loss is specifically the type of fat that we lose when the body burns more calories than it consumes. So where does that fat go? Australian physicist Ruben Meerman and University of New South Wales professor Andrew Brown conducted a study in which they discovered that this type of fat is breathed out in the form of carbon dioxide and it simply goes “into thin air”. Only about 20% of the fat is excreted through sweat, urine and feces.

While rapidly breathing may seem like the key to fat loss, that’s not entirely accurate and extremely dangerous. This type of breathing may lead to hypoventilation which runs the risk of heart palpitations, dizziness and loss of consciousness. The correct way to lose weight through breathing is to engage the metabolic process through exercise and a healthy, balanced diet. Staying hydrated is also important because the more water we lose through perspiration and respiration, the more we need to replace it. In no time, you’ll begin to see results!