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Body fat: Where does it go when you lose weight?

content provided by mayoclinic.com

Body fat: Where does it go when you lose weight?

Question

Where does body fat go when you lose weight? How does your body get rid of it?

Elisa
Texas

Answer

When you consume fewer calories than your body needs, your body turns to fat for energy. Body fat is broken down through a series of complex metabolic processes. Your body uses the energy produced by these processes. The waste products from these processes are water and carbon dioxide. You excrete water primarily through urine and sweat, and carbon dioxide by exhaling.

Last Updated: 04/20/2006
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