How Long Does It Take For Weight Loss To Show? Drastic changes in your weight occur over time.
The amount of time that it takes for you to notice these changes depends on how much weight you need to lose and the pace at which your body burns fat.
Your age, gender and resting metabolic rate also play a role in how long it takes to see changes in your weight. Other factors that impact how long it takes for weight loss to show include:
- How much weight do you need to lose
- Your age
- Your gender
- Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR)
How fast your body burns calories through normal daily activities and exercise. The following subsections explore all of these factors and how they impact the amount of time it takes for weight loss to show.
How Much Weight You Need To Lose
The number of pounds you need to lose will be one factor that directly affects how long it takes for weight loss to show.
If you lose five pounds, you’ll notice a difference compared to if you were to lose one pound. The more weight you need to lose, the more dramatic and drastic your weight change will be.
The older you get, the harder it becomes for your body to burn fat and shed excess weight. On average, women start losing lean muscle mass at age 35.
That’s one reason why a weight loss of a mere five pounds may seem more difficult for a woman age 40 or older.
When losing weight, men tend to lose it faster than women do, especially after 50. This difference in how fast men and women can expect to lose weight may be attributed to men having a faster metabolic rate than women.
Your resting metabolic rate is determined by your age, gender and body composition. As you get older or if you lose muscle mass, your RMR can slow down.
If your resting metabolic rate slows down, it will take longer for you to lose weight, and the amount of weight you eventually lose will be less.
In addition, if your resting metabolic rate slows down, it will take longer for you to see changes in your appearance after starting a new exercise program or following a reduced-calorie diet.
How fast your body burns calories through normal daily activities and exercise
If you lead a mostly sedentary lifestyle, weight loss will come on more slowly than it would if you were more active. That’s because the less active you are, the slower your body will burn calories.
For example:
- You may need to lose 10 pounds for your clothes to start feeling looser.
- You may need to lose 15 pounds for your friends or family to notice.
- You may need to lose 20 pounds before the scale reflects it.
You can, however, speed up weight loss by being more active. Gaining muscle mass will also help you burn calories faster which will speed up weight loss.
How Long Does It Take For Weight Loss To Show?
The amount of time it takes for weight loss to show will depend on the number of pounds you need to lose, age, gender and resting metabolic rate.
Other factors that can impact how quickly you’ll notice a difference in your appearance include: How active you are Whether or not you gain muscle mass while losing weight How much weight you need to lose
Your age
If you are over 50, it will take longer for weight loss to show because your RMR slows down. On average, men can expect to see changes in their appearance after losing between 10 and 20 pounds, while women may need to lose about 15 pounds or more before seeing a difference.
Your gender
If you are a woman over age 50, it will take longer for weight loss to show because your RMR slows down. Men can expect to lose weight faster than women due to their faster metabolic rate.
Also, the amount of muscle mass men typically carry is higher than that of women, contributing to how quickly men can expect to lose weight.
Your resting metabolic rate
If you have a slow RMR, it will take longer for weight loss to show because your body burns calories slower than normal.
If you are inactive or start an exercise routine that does not include strength training, which helps build muscle mass, it may also take longer for weight loss to show.
Where do you notice weight loss first?
Typically, you’ll notice that clothes are looser before the scale reflects a difference.
Your friends or family may also observe that your clothes are baggy before noticing any changes in weight on the scale.
Where do you notice weight loss last?
Although weight loss will take place throughout your body, it is typically noticed first around your midsection. In addition, weight loss may not be noticeable until you have lost a significant amount of pounds.
How much time does it take to lose 10 pounds?
If your goal is to lose 10 pounds, it will typically take around three months if you lead a mostly sedentary lifestyle and do little or no strength training. If you are active and strength train regularly, you can expect to lose 10 pounds in two months.
If you’re over the age of 50, it will take longer for weight loss to show because your RMR slows down. How much time does it take to lose 20 pounds?
If your goal is to lose 20 pounds, it will typically take around six months if you lead a mostly sedentary lifestyle and do little or no strength training.
If you are active and strength train regularly, you can expect to lose 20 pounds in four months. If you’re over the age of 50, it will take longer for weight loss to show because your RMR slows down.
Dr. Aditya Gupta is a highly accomplished Indian doctor with extensive experience in the field of neurology. Born and raised in New Delhi, India, Dr. Gupta completed his medical degree from the prestigious All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), followed by his postgraduate studies in neurology from the same institution.
