The human body is naturally prone to fluctuation but, you've probably noticed that, not all bodies fluctuate in the same way. For some, weight changes can first show up on the face whereas for others it may be the midsection or thighs. This goes both ways: The same areas that show weight loss first will also hint to weight gain before other parts of the frame. The body's ability to transform itself is equally fascinating as it is frustrating, but it doesn't need to be quite so confounding.
If you've ever looking in the mirror or slid into a pair of jeans and thought why doesn't the body lose and gain weight in a steadier, less site-specific manner? You're definitely not alone. We too have had the same questions, which is why we posed them to leading fitness, nutrition, and health experts.
Meet the Expert
Ahead, experts share their insight on where we lose (and gain) weight first and why.
Where Do People Lose Weight First?
"In terms of loss, it may be easier [depending on the individual] to shed fat in the trunk and ab area as opposed to the leg and gluteal area, which is why it appears that men lose weight/fat faster than women," says fitness expert Lisa Wheeler. Similarly, Wheeler says that women who tend to carry weight in the trunk and ab area seem to lose weight faster than women who carry weight in their glutes and legs. In other words, while weight loss and gain can differ by gender, it can also differ greatly from person to person.
What Areas Are More Prone to Gaining Weight?
According to our experts, the reason you gain weight so rapidly in your midsection and not in, say, your calves and forearms is because the adipocytes (or fat cells), which are found throughout the body, are more plentiful in the hips, butt, stomach, and thigh area for women and stomach for men. Women may be more prone to fat along their hips, thighs, butt, and stomach because of something Tanya Zuckerbrot, MS, RD, calls "sex-specific fat," or stubborn fat that "serves as an energy reserve for the demands of pregnancy and lactation. It is typically the last place you will lose weight, as your body wants to save it to help fuel the demands of childbearing," she explains.
For men, there is no "evolutionary purpose" for harboring belly fat, also known as visceral fat, a dangerous type of fat that envelopes your organs and is linked to metabolic disease, she says. The upside: Zuckerbrot says that, overall, it's the easiest type of fat to lose because it breaks down more quickly. Research shows that fiber intake can help to reduce this dangerous visceral fat.
Wheeler says that genetics also play a large role in how we gain fat and claims that there are four primary patterns of fat storage:
- An even distribution throughout the body
- The trunk and abdomen (predominantly men)
- The trunk, legs, and glutes (predominantly women)
- The abdominal area only
