Fat Loss vs Weight Loss: What Are The Major Differences?

When you’re trying to get in shape, the two words that seem confusing are weight loss and fat loss. Although they sound similar, you should know that there is a huge difference between weight loss and fat loss.

Don’t know much about that? Our detailed article on it should clear your confusion for good.

Fat Loss vs Weight Loss: At a Glance

The primary differentiating point between weight and fat loss is that weight loss primarily refers to a loss of muscle, fat, and water within the body, whereas fat loss refers to only a decrease in the body fat.

Even though both terms are related to fitness, weight loss can tend to be harmful in the long run, while fat loss can be beneficial.

What Is Weight Loss?

Weight loss is a loose term used commonly to describe an overall decrease in muscle, water, and fat from the body. Since a pound of muscle and fat weigh exactly the same, it can get confusing when you look at your scale weight.

If you gain muscle or drop body fat, you might not know whether it’s weight loss or fat loss. But you can definitely assume what you’ve lost depending on the change in your body.

At present, a calorie deficit is a popular choice of diet among individuals. When you overdo this calorie deficit, you lose weight in few weeks. However, this loss is not fat loss. In fact, it is the loss of muscle tissue from your body.

If you cut down your calories to a massive level, it leads to macronutrient restriction. Because of this, your body does not get enough protein, hence the muscle loss.

Another popular method among individuals is low carb intake. Carbohydrates retain more water than any other nutrient, so when your body gets low on carbs, your body loses more water.

So, when you lose weight, you will feel these changes within your body that are the net result of the loss of more water and muscle tissue.

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What Is Fat Loss?

Now comes the next point in our discussion- fat loss. Compared to weight loss, fat loss is healthier and a better alternative. Unlike weight loss, there is no reduction of body muscle or water content within the body in case of fat loss. You only lose the overall body fat.

It means that fat loss targets the excess fat stored within your body in different areas and over time helps you shed them.

You can notice yourself losing body fat and not muscle or water by simply observing your body. With body fat loss, your belly fat, thigh fat, and back fat tend to disappear and are replaced by lean muscle tissue.

Fat loss is also a healthy alternative since it helps with improving cardiovascular function, prevents chronic diseases, and helps with inflammation.

Main Differences between Weight and Fat Loss

Weight loss affects the healthy muscle tissue within the body and causes your organs to shrink, leading to dehydration and poor immunity.
Fat loss builds the muscle tissue within your body and assists in improving the health status of the body and improving the immunity status.
Weight loss occurs with no strength training and only depending on calorie decrease and less intake of carbs.
Fat loss occurs with high strength training and following a nutritious and healthy diet.
Weight loss is bad for health since it affects the body functions and causes dehydration.
Fat loss helps with dehydration and inflammation, so it is considered good for the health.

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A Comparison Table to Summarize

Parameters of Comparison	Weight Loss	Fat Loss
Definition	Weight loss refers to the decline in muscle tissue, water content, and fat within the body.	Fat loss refers to the decline in the overall stored body fat.
Impact on Strength	Loss of muscle tissue decreases strength.	Development of more muscle tissue increases the strength.
Metabolism	Decreases the metabolism	Improves the metabolism
Health Effects	Causes dehydration, early aging, and poor immunity.	Helps with fighting dehydration, boosting immunity, combating inflammation, and promoting cardiac function.
Fitness	Reduces body fitness	Improves body fitness

Key Takeaways

Weight loss and fat loss are both commonly practiced methods of staying fit by individuals.
Both types of practices require strict maintenance in the daily diet and coordinated exercise.
Weight loss can be detrimental to overall health since it deals with reducing more water and muscle content than stubborn body fat.
Fat loss can be beneficial since it takes care of shedding fat and building muscle tissue.

Conclusion

Weight loss and fat loss are confusing terms and can get mixed up easily by individuals looking for getting back in shape. While weight loss is a poor health choice and affects the muscle and water distribution within the body, fat loss is a healthier and smart choice.

After reading our difference between weight loss and fat loss article, we recommend that you opt for fat loss since it will not only allow you to get in shape but will also boost your metabolism and overall health.