A healthy body and mind are crucial for longevity and disease prevention. When aiming for a healthier lifestyle, many people concentrate on losing weight rather than focusing on fat loss. While weight loss and fat loss may sound similar, they are distinct processes. Weight loss often involves shedding water weight and muscle mass along with fat. In contrast, fat loss targets the reduction of fat stored in the body, leading to more effective and beneficial outcomes. If you're unsure about the differences between weight loss and fat loss, let Connector guide you through understanding these differences.
What Is Weight Loss
Weight loss refers to a reduction in overall body weight, which can occur due to various factors such as loss of water, muscle, or fat. While losing excess weight can have health benefits, it's important to understand that not all weight loss is the same. Many individuals monitor their weight loss progress by stepping on a scale, but this only reveals the total weight lost, not specifically the amount of fat lost.
Adding to this Dr Maher Al Ahdab, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgent, Medart Clinics, says, "Weight loss can lead to a decrease in muscle mass, resulting in a softer appearance and potentially lower metabolic rate. While weight loss can improve health, indiscriminate loss of muscle and water can be dangerous."
What Is Fat Loss
Fat loss targets reducing the percentage of body fat. Excess body fat can lead to health issues like obesity. Fat loss focuses on decreasing fatty tissue while preserving lean muscle mass. Compared to losing water or muscle, losing fat is more advantageous for health.
Commenting on this striking difference Dr Azra Kasalo, Specialist Internal Medicine, Dubai London Clinic And Speciality Hospital, adds, "Weight loss is simply an overall reduction in body weight (including muscle, water, and fat loss), while fat loss specifically targets reducing body fat (both subcutaneous and visceral fat) and focuses on preserving muscle. The medical definition of weight loss is a decrease in body weight resulting from either voluntary (diet, exercise) or involuntary (illness) circumstances."
Dr Maher Al Ahdab from Medart Clinics, adds, "The primary difference between fat loss and weight loss lies in what is being reduced from the body. Fat loss specifically targets the reduction of body fat, achieved through methods like balanced nutrition and resistance training to preserve or increase muscle mass. Weight loss, on the other hand, refers to a general decrease in overall body weight, which includes the loss of fat, muscle, and water. This can lead to a softer appearance and potential muscle loss, which may lower the metabolic rate."
How Can You Understand Whether You Are Losing Weight Or Fat
Don't rely solely on the scale for progress. Water and muscle weight loss can affect your weight. Track changes in body measurements like waist and hips. If strength and performance in activities improve despite weight loss, you're likely focusing on fat loss over muscle loss.
Dr Azra Kasalo at Dubai London Clinic And Speciality Hospital, suggests, "Using a body fat scale can provide a more accurate picture of your body composition by measuring the percentage of fat and muscle you have. You can also use skinfold callipers to estimate your body fat percentage, but this takes practice to ensure accuracy. A simple, non-invasive, and inexpensive fat mass observation is the waist circumference to height ratio. Studies showed that it was more accurate than the body mass index (BMI) in predicting excess body fat. According to research, a healthy waist-to-height ratio ranges between 0.4 and 0.49."
What Should You Focus On More
When losing weight, some people also lose muscle and fluid along with fat, which can have negative health effects. Your goal determines whether to focus on weight loss or fat loss. If you want quick results for an event, weight loss may be sufficient. But for long-term health, stamina, and overall well-being, prioritise fat loss. Though it can be challenging and slow, fat loss offers more lasting benefits. Dr Azra Kasalo at Dubai London Clinic And Speciality Hospital, says that balance is the key to everything, especially for your muscle mass, and adds, "Sarcopenia or muscle loss can be detrimental, as muscle is a crucial component of your overall health. Unfortunately, it is underestimated and underdiagnosed. It is more common in 'weight cycling'- repeatedly losing and gaining weight multiple times through life since weight regain is almost entirely fat, and therefore it leads to sarcopenic obesity. Several studies have linked a higher fat-to-muscle ratio to chronic diseases, i.e., heart disease and diabetes. To prevent sarcopenia, we need to follow a healthy diet, increase protein intake, and engage in strength or resistance training."
Meanwhile, Dr Maher Al Ahdab from Medart Clinics says that focusing on fat loss is generally more beneficial for achieving a healthier body composition and sustaining long-term health.
Food And Weight, How To Find The Balance
- Aim for a healthy and fit body overall, capable of enduring physical activities and daily tasks.
- Maintain a balanced diet rich in protein, complex carbohydrates, healthy fats, and fibre.
- Include protein-rich foods such as lean meats, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, legumes, and plant-based proteins.
- Incorporate healthy fats from sources like avocados, almonds, seeds, and olive oil, essential for hormone synthesis and overall wellness.
- Opt for complex carbohydrates found in vegetables and fruits to sustain energy levels and support physical workouts.
Adding her input on this Dr Azra Kasalo at Dubai London Clinic And Speciality Hospital, says, "There is plenty of food proven to support fat burning when eaten as part of a controlled eating plan, i.e., salmon, nuts, berries, watermelon, cinnamon, chilli, coffee, green tea, and apple cider vinegar. As a controlled eating plan for long-term satisfaction, it is important to follow a diet we truly enjoy."
Exercise And Weight Loss, How To Find The Balance
Dr. Maher Al Ahdab from Medart Clinics says, "Your focus should be on increasing muscle mass through proper diet and resistance training. It results in a leaner, more defined physique and improved health outcomes by reducing the risk of diseases associated with high body fat. Hence, it's vital to work out at least 30 minutes a day."
To establish a sustainable workout routine, consider activities you enjoy, like dance or sports, and aim to engage in them at least three times a week. Incorporate strength and resistance training exercises such as squats, deadlifts, bench presses, and overhead presses to target multiple muscle groups, promoting muscle growth and fat loss.
You can also include high-intensity interval training (HIIT) for short bursts of intense exercise followed by rest periods to burn calories and improve cardiovascular health. Moderate cardio activities like brisk walking or cycling also aid in fat-burning without sacrificing muscle mass. Aim for 150 to 300 minutes per week of cardio and muscle-strengthening activities for a healthy life.
Conclusion
Overall, it's important to accurately track your progress. Make sure you understand what you are losing, set clear goals, and follow a sustainable routine for better bone health and a long life.