Question:
Why is weight loss almost always most noticable in the face first?

I was wondering why most of the time, the first place you notice a person losing weight is their face? It seems like when you're losing 50 pounds, some of it would drop off other areas-why is it not as recognized as face weight loss?    — jenn_jenn (posted on September 21, 2003)

September 20, 2003
I have lost more than 85lbs. and all people keep telling me is how *THIN* my face is! Forget the fact that I went from a size 32 to a size 18 and XL. I know how you feel. Maybe it is because of our baggy clothes? I did notice I looked thinner in the body when I wear an XL or 18, which I am slowly starting to fit into 16. Looks like your doing great though, keep up the good job, and believe me, people will notice your body getting thinner soon enough! Also, people who are jealous of your accomplishments will have a tendancy to say things like this to get your goat! If that happens, just tell them, these baggy clothes are hiding my body weight loss and I don't want to buy new clothes yet because I am going to lose so much more and will only have to buy smaller clothes again.
   — wildchild

September 20, 2003
I think it's based on percentage of area. The whole head is not that big and therefore even a small percentage of loss is quite noticeable, especially because the face is less than 1/2 of the whole head. The gut, for instance, is so much larger and will lose in smaller percentages. It does show eventually though. Like the other poster said buying clothes that are very fitting goes a LONG ways towards people noticing the change. If you still have the tendency to wear looser baggy clothes they won't notice. Me I buy them very tight so that I get as much time out of them as possible. I started at 36W and 4X-6X and am wearing 22W-20W pants and 1X shirts now. Even if you must keep the new clothes buying in check every once in a while you deserve a new outfit. It gets so much easier to find good deals locally when one gets into "normal" women's sizes and no longer in the extended sizes. Keep up the great work and show off that thinner face as well as that thinner body.
   — zoedogcbr

September 21, 2003
I believe it is because that is the part of you that people actually see/noitice the most. I believe you are actually losing everywhere, however, it is the most obvious part of our bodies to everyone (including ourselves). We as a society are going to notice other's faces, first. So, it is a natural assumption that the weight loss will be noticed there first. Shelley
   — Shelley.

September 21, 2003
I disagree, the first place that I started to lose weight and it was very noticable was my ankles and calves. It had been years since I had ankles, now that I am down 51 lbs in 6 weeks, I am starting to be able to tell some in my face.
   — cindy

September 21, 2003
I am 15 mths post op and when i start to loose again it always shows in my face first and then works it way down my body... that is how i can tell when im going to be soon loosing another pants size.... at least that is how it works for me.
   — paulsgirl

September 21, 2003
Gravity! LOL
   — Beverly S.

September 21, 2003
That use to ERK me to no end when people would notice my face, but not the rest of me. I would think... "70 lbs and all you can notice is my face?" I finally realized I was wearing the same baggy, oversized women's sizes I had been in and the loss was not as noticable elsewhere. When I broke down and bought some clothes that actually fit, people have been amazed. Our face often looks a bit thin and gaunt the first few months and it's due to the nutrition issues and the shear trauma of the type surgery we had. I hear it will "fill out" and look healthy again.
   — Happy I.

September 21, 2003
Our body will use the fat in non-essential areas first - and in areas that won't affect our center of gravity. The face is a prime candidate for fat loss since we don't need quickly available source of energy around our chins and cheeks. That's my take on it. <p> Take Care, Be Well, Be Happy!
   — John T.