Biochemistry

Fat doesn't 'burn off' — it is chemically converted and primarily exhaled as carbon dioxide. Understanding the biochemistry of fat loss, where the body mobilises fat first, and why spot reduction is impossible explains what actually happens during weight loss.

When fat is metabolised, the carbon atoms in triglycerides are exhaled as carbon dioxide — approximately 84% of the weight of fat leaves the body through the lungs. This article explains the biochemistry of fat oxidation and why the common misconceptions (fat turns to heat, muscle, or energy) are incorrect.

When fat is metabolised during a calorie deficit, approximately 84% leaves the body as exhaled CO₂ and 16% as water (Meerman & Brown 2014). Fat does not convert to muscle, exit through sweat, or leave via the digestive tract. This article explains the biochemistry of fat mobilisation and oxidation in accessible terms.

Fat loss involves lipolysis (breaking triglycerides into fatty acids) followed by beta-oxidation in mitochondria. The carbon atoms from fat leave the body primarily as exhaled CO2 — not sweat, urine, or heat. This article explains the complete biochemical pathway from calorie deficit to fat loss.