Losing weight is a goal for many people and watching the pounds of fat coming off is a real reward for your hard efforts. But where does that fat go? The biochemical aspects of fat metabolism explain the mystery of where the fat goes during weight loss.
Fat Storage
Fat is stored in the body when the amount of calories taken in exceeds the amount required for the body to function. The body will detect when blood sugar levels exceed a certain level. At that point, the carbohydrates within the bloodstream are converted to triglycerides, made up of glycerol and fatty acids, within the fat cells in the body and are stored as tiny oil droplets.
Meeting Energy Needs
When the amount of calories consumed as food is less than the amount required for the body to function, it gets those calories from stored fat, much like a car gets fuel from its gas tank. Fat cells in the body provide that fuel by releasing the triglycerides, when needed.
Metabolism
When metabolic changes occur, either through limiting the intake of calories or increasing the demand for energy, hormones are released and trigger the enzyme lipase to break the triglycerides apart through a biochemical reaction and release the fatty acids and glycerol. These then move into the bloodstream and are taken in by the muscles and liver where they are converted into other chemicals that can be used for energy within the body.
ATP
One of the primary by-products of this metabolic process is adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP is a molecule that provides energy for cellular activity. ATP is responsible for providing the energy that allows muscles and other organs to function properly.
Waste Products
The result of this metabolizing of fat produces a lot of water and carbon dioxide that are eliminated from the body in sweat, urine and breathing. Heat is also produced. This heat regulates and maintains the temperature of the body.
Member Comments