Where Does Fat Go When You Lose Weight?

Weight loss is usually associated with a lower number on the scale and a smaller body size, but have you ever stopped to think about where fat goes when you lose weight? The answer is surprising and complicated.

You may already know that fat is stored energy, and that the body uses carbohydrates and protein as energy, too. It takes less effort for the body to convert carbs to energy, which is why it chooses carbohydrates over fat for energy use. Not to mention, it's also easier for the body to store fat (via Livestrong).

For fat loss to occur, you need to consume fewer calories than your body actually needs. This is why reducing your calorie intake and adding exercise to your lifestyle are so important when it comes to losing weight. Your body can begin to burn fat after about 30 minutes or an hour of an aerobic workout and about an hour of moderate exercise, says  endocrinologist Bartolome Burguera, M.D., Ph.D. (via Cleveland Clinic). As the body metabolizes fat for energy, it produces heat, which causes the fat cells to get smaller (via Mayo Clinic). Interestingly, fat cells never disappear, they just decrease in size (via Healthline).