Breaking Down Why We Lose or Gain Weight in Different Areas
Have you ever thought to yourself, “why couldn’t I just gain that weight in my boobs?” If you’re like millions of American women, you’ve pondered why you tend to lose weight in certain areas while it won’t budge from other, less desirable places.
Byrdie recently broke down the weight loss struggle for us—and we thought many of our Rancho Cucamonga weight loss patients would be interested. Here’s what they had to say.
The reason women are prone to fat in their lower bodies has to do with “sex-specific fat,” or fat that is reserved for the demands of pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Women store fat differently than men…but every person is different
First off, here’s a rundown of the most common ways bodies store fat.
- Evenly distributed fat. This body type looks proportional or even slender with extra weight, though there can still be a high body fat percentage compared to lean muscle.
- In the trunk and abdominal area. Most men fall in this category; some women store fat in this way as well. The good news is that it can be easier to shed fat in from the midsection compared to other places, such as the hips or legs.
- Around the trunk, leg, and buttock area. Most women fall in this category, carrying fat in their tummy, hips, legs, and butt. While women who hold weight this way tend to look curvy, these areas are unfortunately the hardest to shed fat from.
The reason women are more prone to fat in their lower bodies has to do with “sex-specific fat,” or fat that is reserved for the demands of pregnancy and breastfeeding. It’s a biological storage center where our bodies reserve fat so we can bear children.
What you can do about it
While this may all sound a little defeating, there are plenty of things you can do to combat excess fat, regardless of biology or where in the body you tend to store your fat.
Exercise often
It goes without saying that moving your body is key to a healthy-looking figure. While you can’t reduce fat in specific areas using targeted workouts, you can tone these troublesome parts by upping your strength training. If you combine this with some form of high-intensity training at least four times a week, you can experience universal fat loss. Remember, though, that it’s unlikely you will slim down uniformly across the body and it may take longer to see results in certain areas.
Eat the right diet
A healthy diet also contributes to where you store weight. Fiber, for example, has been shown to reduce fat in the abdominal area. Pay attention to the types of foods you’re eating an how much of them you’re eating. A stolen cookie won’t throw your progress out the window, but do try to focus your meals around whole, fresh foods and keep processed, sugary, and highly fatty foods to a minimum.
Have your hormones checked
If you can’t seem to shed the pounds despite eating right and following a great exercise routine, you might have a hormone imbalance. For instance, high levels of estrogen can make putting on weight easy and losing it feel nearly impossible. Check with your doctor to see if a hormone imbalance may be the culprit.
Diet & exercise not cutting it?
Sometimes, no matter what you do, it feels impossible to reach your weight loss goals on your own—and that’s where we can help. We’d love to hear about your specific challenges and be your partners in finding solutions. From bariatric surgery options and programs to help jumpstart weight loss, to cosmetic procedures like liposuction to remove stubborn fat, our Inland Empire weight loss surgeons have a range of effective tools to help you feel healthier and more confident. Questions? Contact us today!
