Weight loss is not the same as losing fat; in fact, losing weight is in general a lot easier than losing fat is. A lot of people boast the ability to drop 5 pounds over the course of a weekend by simply skipping meals, and while this may help you to fit into a pair of jeans to see old friends, losing fat is a much more effective way of losing weight and keeping it off.

Losing fat boasts a lot of benefits outside of simply losing weight. In addition to looking better, losing fat is a great way to feel better overall and improve your health too. Here are the four main reasons to take the extra effort to make your weight loss goals about losing fat:

1. Morbidity. Excess body fat and obesity account for thousands of deaths ever year in America alone. In middle aged people just 20 extra pounds of fat can increase the risk of death, and this risk increases proportionally as the weight increases. The risk of morbidity is one of the most significant reasons why people seek medical weight loss in Bakersfield and around the world.
2. Feeling well. In order to lose fat, you need to exercise. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins. Endorphins act as a natural pain killer and make you “feel good”. This means that in addition to helping you to lose weight, exercise will help you to feel healthy and better overall.
3. Improved health conditions. The list of health benefits is long when you lose fat. Exercise can improve blood sugar control, decrease blood pressure, improve cholesterol levels, improve cardiovascular health, and even improve breathing.
4. Increase confidence. For some people, excess weight leads to decreased confidence. With weight gain, some people withdraw and become less apt to socialize. Exercising and losing fat helps a person to become more energized, which often translates into increased confidence.