How much weight loss is noticeable? (2023)

Does losing 10 pounds make a difference in appearance?

"By the time you hit 10 pounds, your jeans will feel differently, absolutely," Blum says. "Just a little looser. Theoretically, 10 pounds is considered one size." Once you get past that first couple pounds where you might not be able to tell, Blum says, you really do start to lose body fat.

In terms of how your body looks, “it usually takes 4 weeks for your friends to notice weight loss, and 6–8 weeks for you to notice,” says Ramsey Bergeron, a certified personal trainer. “Your friends who don't see you every day are much more likely to see a change than someone you're around all the time,” he adds.

On average, a 15 to 20-pound loss (approximately 2 to 5 percent of your starting body weight) is enough to notice "significant changes in your body," he said. You can start seeing differences in yourself as early as two weeks with rapid weight loss.

Losing 5 pounds can make a noticeable difference in an individual's weight, appearance, and overall health. You can experience an improvement in your health, both on an aesthetic and scientific level, even after losing a few pounds.

The first place men typically lose weight is the belly, while women tend to lose weight all over, but hold onto weight in their thighs and hips, Dr. Block explains.

Rule and Re found that the average decrease required to make the faces in the sample appear more attractive was 2.38 kg/m2 for women, and 2.59 kg/m2 for men, translating to about 6.3 and 8.2 kilograms (approximately 14 and 18 pounds) for women and men of average height, respectively.

Skin laxity can change after losing about 30 pounds, says Desai. “If you notice changes in larger areas of the body, like arms, abdomens, thighs, and buttocks, you may get that change in the face as well.”

How much difference does losing 20 pounds make?

Losing 20 pounds might not make a huge difference in your physical health, but it can lower the risk of contracting obesity-related diseases. You will feel a change in your mobility, meaning you'll be able to run and walk faster.

Although everyone's body is different, in general, people can expect to lose one to two pounds a week if they are doing so in a healthy manner, Jim said. So for three months, or about 12 weeks, a healthy goal is 12 to 24 pounds. Losing weight at this rate ensures that you'll keep it off for the long term.

The rule of thumb, Fernstrom says, is that losing 8 to 10 pounds translates to going down one size.

Scientifically, you can start to see results and lose belly fat for yourself in something as little as 2 weeks time. That being said, even if the timeline might be short, cutting around inches off your waistline could require a lot of hard work and following the right balance of diet and workout.

After shedding the pounds, you might notice a smaller waist or a thinner face before the fat melts away from other stubborn areas. But one thing's for sure—losing 30 pounds or more will make a noticeable difference on pretty much anyone's frame, no matter the starting point or the goal weight.

While everyone loses weight differently, dropping as little as 3 to 5 pounds can show up on your face first, Eboli says.

It's possible to gain muscle and reduce body fat without actually seeing a change in your weight. This happens when you lose body fat while gaining muscle. Your weight may stay the same, even as you lose inches, a sign that you're moving in the right direction.

It depends on your body fat percentage (which most gym trainers will measure for free). If you're living with obesity (over 25% body fat for a man or more than 32% body fat for a woman), aim to lose fat first. The higher your body fat percentage, the harder it is to gain muscle while minimizing fat gain.

According to various surveys and studies, women with attractive features usually have a BMI of 19, and men with attractive faces have a BMI of 24. This means their ideal weights for women and men should be 111 and 165 pounds respectively.

(27) found that the most frequently selected ideal body had a BMI of 19.79, closely followed by an underweight ideal of 18.26. Ahern et al. (28) found that a BMI of 20 was considered the most attractive, while Swami et al. (29), and MacNeill and Best (30), found that an underweight body was most frequently selected.

Do you look younger when you lose weight?

How much younger? Twin studies revealed that a person who has a BMI 4 points higher can look 2-4 years younger. The reason is that the face naturally loses fat as we get older. Features such as full lips and round cheeks are associated with youth.

Excess visceral fat can pose serious health risks, but when you embark on a healthy diet and exercise plan, this fat is often the first to disappear. This means you're likely to notice weight loss in your abdominal area first.

Drinking Water Can Make You Burn More Calories

Drinking water increases the amount of calories you burn, which is known as resting energy expenditure ( 4 ). In adults, resting energy expenditure has been shown to increase by 24–30% within 10 minutes of drinking water.

Many studies have shown that following low calorie diets, including 1,200-calorie diets, can promote weight loss. For example, a study in 2,093 people with obesity demonstrated that a medically supervised 1,200-calorie meal replacement diet resulted in an average fat loss of 4.7% over 12 months ( 6 ).

However, scientific evidence shows that losing just 10 pounds can improve conditions related to metabolic syndrome, such as hypertension and high cholesterol. Losing 10 pounds can also do wonders for your mental health by boosting your confidence and self-esteem.