Question:
Will my voice change as I lose weight?

My parents told me that as I got heavier my voice became deeper. I am no baratone or anything , but I wish I had a more feminine voice. I have sought out a voice coach but she works with singers. My question I need to lose 100 lbs - will this make my voice 'lighter' as well?    — Lynn W. (posted on December 25, 2001)

December 25, 2001
This is an interesting question and I will be anxious to see what other people have to say... I have noticed in myself however, that at least in my singing, my voice has become lower. I used to be able to sing farily high, but the last couple of times I went to church I have noticed that I have to sing in a lower key. It\'s like I went from soprano to alto in less than 5 months. Strange huh?
   — Kellie Jo B.

December 25, 2001
i am sitting here laffing at myself. i wanted to ask this question so many times but thought...now THATS what i call a really dumb question. but when i read it by someone else it wasnt dumb at all! i too have a very deep voice. i can attribute some of it to smoking but i too, wonder, does my short narrow throat have something to do with it too? i would love to hear from post ops who have experienced a voice change.
   — sheryl titone

December 25, 2001
My personal opinion (and this is just my opinion) is that my voice became deeper and rougher because with the extra 100 pounds I felt less feminine. I noticed everything was rougher because I had to exert so much energy doing it. Yes, even talking took alot out of me. With my weight loss has come a lighter side of everything. My features have become softer, my voice \"sweeter\", I no longer sound and feel angry or aggravated all the time. I\'m not saying that this is your problem. How we feel effects us in so many different ways. I never realized how true this was until I stopped feeling that way- or started feeling better. Yea! I think your voice will not be as deep. And I imagine if you carry alittle weight around your neck, that pressure would effect your voice too - just like it effects our breathing. Never thought of it, but now that I read your question, I\'m glad I have.
   — K T.

December 26, 2001
I am a voice teacher with a great deal of knowledge about the singing voice. The mechanism that you use to sing is the same as the one you use to speak.First let me tell you that a womans voice does not mature until she is about 35-40 years old. Some of the deepening in your voice has to do with age. If you smoke, that will deepen your voice as well. Most people talk too low and that puts stress on the vocal folds too. There are some excellent books on the speaking voice. One has you hum into your nose and give an affirmative response umm huh. if the bridge of your nose vibrates then try speaking into the higher pitch. Also drink lots of water. This keeps the speaking mechanism in optimum form. I cannot think of anything weight related that would deepen the pitch of your voice since pitch is determined by the speed of the vibrations of the vocal folds. The quality of your voice could change because of changes in the vocal tract. If you are truly concerned you should see a vocal expert. An otolarengologist could help. They could scope the throat and vocal tract to look for irregularities. Good Luck
   — roseann A.