Difference Between Loose Skin and Fat

The key difference between loose skin and fat is that loose skin can be easily pinched and pulled outwards, while fat cannot be grabbed easily.

Many people who lose weight dramatically face the problem of excess skin or loose skin. Loose skin around the belly, arms, shoulders, or thighs looks just like fat. Fat is the excess subcutaneous body fat. Often, it is hard to differentiate fat and loose skin. People who have lost weight quickly are left behind with excess skin that is saggy and ugly, making them look as if they have fat in the wrong areas in their bodies. A simple test can differentiate loose skin and fat.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Loose Skin
3. What is Fat
4. Similarities – Loose Skin and Fat
5. Loose Skin vs Fat in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Loose Skin vs Fat

What is Loose Skin?

Skin is a living organ that stretches and shrinks according to the weight gain or weight loss of a person. Loose skin is the skin that will remain after you have lost weight fast. People who are overweight or obese always tend to go up a journey of losing weight. They rush to lose weight and end up with severe loose skin. Therefore, gradual reduction of weight is the best option in order to prevent loose skin after weight loss. Loose skin can be a result of pregnancy, dieting, and exercising.

In addition to losing fat deposits, you may lose lots of muscles and water. Loose skin is predominantly seen in the lower abdominal area. It may also be seen under your arms or legs. Losing weight slowly is the simplest way to avoid loose skin. Severe loose skin needs surgery to repair.

What is Fat?

Fat is the excess subcutaneous body fat which can probably be mistaken as loose skin because subcutaneous fat is soft and loose. When compared to loose skin, if you have fat, you cannot pinch it off. Subcutaneous fat exists under your skin all over the body. You can burn excess fat by doing cardio, including running, biking, swimming, and other high-intensity activities. Excess abdominal fat is not good for your health. It is often associated with elevated heart risks.

What are the Similarities Between Loose Skin and Fat?

• Loose skin and fat appear the same.
• In fact, loose skin around the belly, arms, shoulders, or thighs looks just like fat,
• Images that show loose skin and fat are more or less similar.
• Both loose skin and fat should be avoided.

What is the Difference Between Loose Skin and Fat?

Loose skin is the skin you’re left with after drastic weight loss or pregnancy, while fat is the excess subcutaneous fat that lies under the skin all over the body. So, this is the key difference between loose skin and fat. Moreover, the loose skin can be easily pinched and pulled outwards, while fat cannot be grabbed easily. Thus, this is another major difference between loose skin and fat. Also, by doing cardio, you cannot reduce loose skin, but you can reduce fat by burning from cardio.

The following infographic lists the differences between loose skin and fat in tabular form for side by side comparison.

Summary – Loose Skin vs Fat

Loose skin and fat can be differentiated easily. If you can pinch a small amount of skin and pull it away from the body, it is the loose skin. Loose skin can be a result of drastic weight loss or pregnancy. If it is fat, you won’t be able to grab it. Loose skin may look like fat, but it is wrinkled and gives the appearance of an old person, unlike the fat that is tight and fleshy. Thus, this is the summary of what is the difference between loose skin and fat.

Reference:

1.“How to Determine If I Have Fat or Loose Skin on My Abs.” LIVESTRONG.COM, Leaf Group.
2. “Getting Rid of Flabby Loose Skin after Weight Loss.” Disabled World, Disabled World, 1 May 2018.

Image Courtesy:

1. “IMG 20171008 095805Upload Wizard” By Es Ragpat – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia