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Surgeon explains why losing first 5kg feels easier than next
Hindustan Times··7 Sept
Dr Ashish Gautam of Max Super Speciality Hospital Patparganj said the first few kilograms often come off quickly after diet changes. Later progress slows as the body needs less energy and appetite can rise. Early loss often includes water with fat. A person at 90 kg later at 80 kg burns fewer calories walking, he said.
Prism
What It Means For You
- Dr Gautam said hormonal systems regulate hunger and fullness during weight loss.
- Ghrelin is among hormones involved in hunger signals, he noted.
- He advised realistic expectations as fat loss follows a slower pace than early scale drops.
What's Happening
- Early weeks can show a larger drop when the body uses stored glycogen, he explained.
- Glycogen is stored with water, so its reduction lowers body water.
- One kilogram of body fat represents substantial stored energy that takes time to shed.
Why weight loss plateaus feel harder later
- Energy needs at lower body weight
- Resting energy expenditure falls as body weight decreases, Dr Gautam said.
- The same walk burns fewer calories after losing several kilograms.
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