Why do fat mass and muscle mass not weigh the same? Where does this difference come from that is important in terms of a person’s silhouette? We reveal you just below.
The weight difference between fat and muscle
Most people think that by playing sports they will lose weight , and therefore lose weight. And yet after a few training sessions and a first passage on the scale, they realize that the kilos they thought they had lost have increased a little! If they are surprised by this result, it is because they do not know very well how the human body works and the muscles or fats that compose it!
The role of fat mass and muscle mass
Fat is primarily a semi-solid mass that sits under the skin and around the kidneys. Its role is to be an energy reserve, protection against the cold and shocks. Too much fat is detrimental to health, however it is necessary for the control of growth, reproduction and other mechanisms of human metabolism.
Muscles are organs in the form of fibers that have the power to contract and shorten. There are three types of muscles, the heart, which contracts involuntarily and which is under the influence of hormones, the muscles of the stomach, which also contract involuntarily and the skeletal muscles which are attached to the bones and allow the body to move.
Why is there a weight difference between the two?
The difference between fat mass and muscle mass is in density . Thus, fat mass is larger than muscle mass . At equal weight, fat therefore takes up more space in the body than muscle. Muscles are made up of 75% water, 20% protein and 5% fat, carbohydrates and other minerals. It is therefore important to know your body composition if you want to lose weight . With physical exertion the muscle fibers thicken and the muscle becomes harder. A muscle mass trained regularly with heavy loads consumes a lot of energy, calories, even at rest. The more important it is, the more it regulates itself naturally by drawing on the fatty mass.
Many beginner athletes think that the more they sweat the more fat they lose, that’s not true! They lose water and become dehydrated! It is during muscle recovery that fat begins to disappear!
What are the consequences on the silhouette?
Because muscle takes up less space in the body than fat, two people can weigh the same and look completely different . Strength training is the perfect example of how you can get heavier but leaner .
Depending on the practitioner’s goals, the body can be shaped to have a slimmer waist and flatter stomach, wider shoulders and well-defined pecs. The muscles are more imposing, heavier, and yet the sportsman has lost one or two sizes in his clothes! The body has changed shape, it has become heavier but has become slimmer!Therefore, at equal weight, two people may have a different physical appearance.
Stephen Paul is the lead author and founder of My Health Sponsor. Holder of a diploma in health and well-being coaching with more than 200 articles in the field of health, he makes it a point of honor to offer advice based on reliable information, based on scientific research, and verified by health professionals.
