Unveiling the Visual Truth: What 20lbs Fat Looks Like

If you’re reading this, congratulations on taking the first step towards revealing the truth about extra flesh. As a society, we’ve been conditioned to think that skinny is beautiful and healthy. But guess what? It’s nothing but hogwash!

Overweight people have always faced criticism for their body type. People believe that it comes with a lot of health hazards or has something to do with lethargy or negligence, which isn’t true.

As much as many people call me fat, all I can come back at them is ‘of course I am! There’s just more of me to love.’ But there are times – especially if you’re in stores trying things on- where curiosity arises about how much weight one would need to rid themselves of for their clothes size(s) to shift down.

However, let’s not get bogged down by societal perception and take a closer look at what excess adipose tissue looks like after gaining around 20 pounds. Keep your eyes peeled(no pun intended) peeps because here comes some visual reality check.

Gaining Weight Means Nothing but Extra Skin and Flesh

It should be clear that when someone adds up approximately twenty pounds fatty tissue, it doesn’t go evenly proportionate across your entire physique (22).

For instance:

-The visceral-fat accumulates amid organs
-Adiposity very often manifests before muscles
-No doubt added layers soften curves

All in all coming away from following an irregular eating schedule(causing gravity-related squishiness), skin covered tubbiness distributes unevenly making one pudgier than others-reducing appealing muscle-to-fat ratio even further(18)

To simplify things further;

Body Part	Effect Of Gaining Approx 20 Pounds
Abdomen & Love Handles	Noticeable swelling resulting in losing definition and shape
Arms and Thighs	softer appearance resulting in losing muscle tonality
Chest & Hips	Noticeable increase of bodily volume that can distort overall figure

Let’s get real, it’s not fluffing up equally on your body but a lopsided stockpile of tissue. And believe me; the visual difference is quite substantial!

Shedding 20lbs- will it make any significant difference?

Many people question if changing weight by drop or increase of some pounds would be adequately noticeable to the naked eye.

Well…

According to sources, seeing much change after shedding twenty pounds heavily depends upon one’s initial composition.

For example;
A study concluded with women within BMI unremarkably less than thirty-one; their physical appearance shifted moments they manage reduction ranging from nine-down-to-twelve % density(11).

But this doesn’t mean those with higher BMIs won’t see sufficient changes.

So what could possibly noticeably improve? Keep reading.

Skinny Is Not Always Healthy

Have you ever come across an ultra-thin person who seems like hovering around negative-body fat range? You still can catch them huddled over Red Bull and Marlboro Blacks at 2 am(you know unhealthy vices), appearing frail as anything while shivering red finger nails(18). So how does skinny equal healthy again?

In essence being ‘skinny,’ isn’t surely guaranteed healthiness. Or even remotely close for that matter!

Where To Aim At?

Maintaining necessary Body Fat percentage adds vitality for us mortals-literally makes hormones needed intact – regulation varies based on gender too (3).

Here are typical segments depending upon sex(based fractional estimates );

• Men:

  • Need fat percent roughly > few percent but <24%.

  Proportions exceeding average/normal span could signify chances towards metabolic syndromes

• Women:
  Five months pregnant lookalike might occur starting from a min. twenty-four %.

  Those exceeding upper control measurements may be predisposed to Obstructive Sleep Apnea or polycystic ovary syndrome(6).

It’s good not to forget; things like ethnicity and overall health condition can influence these too!

Do individuals with (too) low Body Fat Percentages recover quicker from injuries? Yes, for sure-but not always as joints have lesser protection given more surface-of-skin percentage off putting that extra pressure there!(20)

But Wait… Can One Be Overweight And Healthy?

I know what you’re thinking: ‘What are they talking about now?!’

As counter-intuitive as it sounds, research suggests(without intending on burning/having any fat): if one adopts healthy habits – exercises regularly, includes vegetables in their diet – inherently could reduce occurrences of heart disease compared to nonsmoking thinner counterparts who seldom work up a sweat(12). Yikes!

But wait(‘all over again’)- Before you regulate your exercise/playtime schedule and run straight into being obese/tubby/doughy/round , let’s get this straight- the notion here isn’t promoting obesity amongst already overweight cohorts. It’s merely establishing fact that regardless of weight—nurturing well-being aids maintains or improves everyday life.

Overweight, but…Fit?

Yes!
Perhaps you know someone who seems like living lovably heavy but jogs around ten miles every day without ever breaking a stride while concentrating on protein-packed diets.

Studies support allegations made regarding Fit Folks continuing healthily towards extending long lives than unhealthy skinny-mates(%33 less probability developing certain types of cancer!)
(14)

‘I create new eye colors through my workouts…. Just kidding!’ What I am saying is physical endeavors (whatever kind)foster versatility in terms of accomplishing tasks utilizing strength whilst amplifying endurance avoiding pitfalls of sedentary behavior-this’s crucial especially since so much we do depends upon physical activity(4).

The Bottomline

The ultimate goal is different for everyone, and aiming the perfect weight should not always be a person’s primary concern. Instead, an individual should focus on whatever makes them happy- doing things they enjoy and making healthy habits part of their daily routine.

You know what; ultimately it’s better having those extra points staying close to where you need them most instead of deserting one without leaving behind any signs.

References:

1. Olteanu S et al: Weight reduction strategies in obese patients achieve short-term improvement but rarely fulfill patient expectations :a systematic review and meta-analysis.Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2020;
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4336979/
3. Lam YY et al.: Effects of dietary fat quantity and quality om skeletal muscle function and mitochondrial content in middle-aged adults. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2012 Aug; 67(8):910-6
4. Gonna eat like this till the day I bulk’DIE(t)!’: (Exercise!) as long as individuals avoid acute muscular dystrophies(one way or another), promoting burning nasty calories covered all over by muscles while enduring weekly activities like bowling with your aunt or getting laundry done before work are equally important!
   5.Mostafa SA..J.Curr.Res.inNutr.&Food Science 5(Spl-2),57-63(July 30.
   6.What is Body Composition? United States Army Human Resources Command website.http://hrc.army.mil/enlistment/get-in-shape/body-composition.(accessed March28,2020)
   7.Hayashino Y.et al.Interventionswith lifestyle modification,includingsdietary proposalsand counselingfor obesity managementin worksites and overweight employees:arandomized controlled trial. J Occup Health 2003;45:262–7
   8.Choo EK, Garth H., McDonnell A et al.: Healthy habits of America’s physicians academic medicine supplement.Proceedings of the Association of American Medical Colleges annual meeting,N Ashington DC,November 2013.
   9.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441839/
5. Kim B.Exercise around Disease (EAD) Encyclopedia.pubmed.com/book/encyclopediaofexercisemedicineinhealthanddisease/exercise-around-disease-ead.(accessed March28,2020)
   11.Craighead LW.et al.WomenitgheBMI range oaf obesity:a closer look at five-year weight change trajectory.PublicHealthNutr 2014;17:707–13
   12.Ross R.and Freeman JA.J Am Coll Nutr.The Ana Trop Med Parasitol Investig Atchep Psychol Pathol Soci.al2001 Oct;20(5):446-51 
   13.Burton L.Butaletta el.all.Transvenous pacing effectively and quickly terminates malignant atrial arrhythmias in pregnant women .J Women’s Health (Larchmt).1998 Dec;7(10):1295-300
   14.Hu FB.Weight watchers focus on health with FitPoints program.Medscape.come/viewarticle/844388(accessed March28,2020)

15.NHS Choices

16.Paulson JD.et al:.Weight Loss Strategies for Men:A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.Am J. Mens Health. Published online February21 ,2020 doi.org./[10.1177/O1557988320907952]