Where does our fat go when we exercise? - CrowdScience, BBC World Service

If, like CrowdScience listener Lili, you enjoy working out in the gym, you may have wondered where your fat disappears to when you exercise?
Click here to subscribe to our channel 👉🏽 bbc.in/3VyyriM
The short answer is that we convert it to energy that powers a whole range of physical processes, from breathing to walking as well as lying down and doing nothing. But the science behind energy expenditure is a little more complicated.
Presenter Anand Jagatia jumps on an exercise bike to have his metabolism measured and learns that he may be relying on an entirely different source of fuel as he works up a sweat.
Is all that hard work worth the effort it involves? Recent research suggests there is a limit to the number of calories humans can burn and that engaging in physical activity is not always a sure-fire way to keep trim.
So if working out is not the best way to lose weight, how about harnessing our own fat to tackle the complications of obesity? It used to be thought brown fat was exclusive to babies (and bears) but we now know adults have some of it too. Anand discovers that it appears to play a vital role in combatting a range of chronic diseases including hypertension and diabetes.
0:00 Introduction
1:19 CrowdScience listener Lili Clever wants to know: Where does fat go when we exercise?
2:54 What is fat aka adipose tissue?
4:15 Why it matters where fat is in your body
5:10 Male/female differences in fat tissue
6:25 Metabolism, fat and carbohydrates
9:43 Example of calorie expenditure
13:45 "We're breathing in other peoples atoms" at the gym
14:52 How fat use and storage changes as we get older
15:50 Our metabolism "stays pretty stable" during our adult lives
16:50 Does going to the gym a lot mean we burn more calories on average than someone living a more leisurely lifestyle?
19:40 Your relationship to food and weight loss/gain
20:45 "Obesity is a diet problem not an exercise problem"
21:30 White fat and brown fat
25:30 Summary and conclusion
Watch more episodes of CrowdScience here 👉🏽 • CrowdScience
----------------
This is the official BBC World Service KZbin channel.
If you like what we do, you can also find us here:
Instagram 👉🏽 / bbcworldservice
Twitter 👉🏽 / bbcworldservice
Facebook 👉🏽 / bbcworldservice
BBC World Service website 👉🏽 www.bbc.co.uk/worldserviceradio
Thanks for watching and subscribing!
#BBCWorldService #WorldService #health #exercise

[@English.moments_]

❤ When we exercise, our body uses stored energy in the form of glucose and fat to fuel our muscles. During exercise, our muscles break down these energy sources to produce ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which is the primary source of energy for our cells. As a result, glucose and fat are converted into carbon dioxide (which we exhale) and water (which we excrete through sweat and urine) as waste products. So essentially, the energy stored in our body is converted into heat, carbon dioxide, and water when we exercise.

[@Sherlika_Gregori]

I don’t even need to watch the video anymore. Thank you.

[@SOI-wl2lo]

The molecule of glucose found in various areas of the body is used for the process of respiration. This process of respiration takes place in all living cells, and the byproduct of this process is energy (also known as ATP). The process takes place more so in muscle cells when they’re under strain during exercise, as they need ATP to contract and perform other functions at this time. The waste products of respiration are carbon dioxide and water - which is the “you’re breathing in molecules once in me” comment lol

[@teddymurigi7064]

​@@Sherlika_GregoriI think you should watch the video because this simple explanation does not mention some nuances that ought to be taken into account. Also, the video references some research whose findings were somewhat counter-intuitive to the popular belief and the current 'scientific understanding'. It's a big eye opener.

[@jakel8627]

Glucose and fat (chemical energy) are convered into heat and kitetic energy. The sugar in your coke doesn't convert to water. You must be some type of wizard

[@TheBrainFlow]

Legend. ❤

[@TT-fn1xb]

Doing 5 hours of exercise a day and trying to keep a really low BMI sounds like a very difficult way to live.

[@esgee2464]

Not really if you think about living with disease 24/7. It’s worth it!

[@akshayde]

Do you excercise 5 hours a day?

[@Cappellano]

There are many jobs that require 8 hours or more of activity a day. I am not talking athletes, military, or manual labour. Just look at waiters or shop attendants, they are walking and carrying things all day.

[@AsianBrownie]

I workout 5 days a week, and lost 2 stones in 5 months. I workout for 1hr 45mins minimum and 2hrs 45mins Max. It's a journey but when you start to see results you put in more work and educate yourself more because of your goals. When you have your food intake in a good place stop eating after 6pm or 7pm and understand the diet you pick should be sustainable for you, plus eat in moderation, it all works out.😊 The more you workout you realise you can enjoy food more. Good luck to anyone reading this, and don't give up!

[@otgonchimegbyamba9151]

😊

[@Pou1gie1]

I wish they had spoken about gut microbiome. I've seen a case study where a mother got a fecal transfer from her daughter who was chubby, and this led the previously thin mother to gain weight she couldn't lose easily. There is some evidence to say the gut microbiome is a big part of weight distribution and loss/gain.

[@kweuig]

5 hr a day exercise. Did I hear it right?

[@Hanvvn]

what? which min?

[@regisphilbin222]

@@Hanvvn Early on at about 1:59

[@FriikD]

she's either a coach or defines walking as exercise

[@Updog89]

Nonsense, for weight loss you just need a calorie deficit which doesn’t require exercise at all. For health you just need 20-60 minutes of exercise 2-5x per week and incorporate a mix of cardio (HIIT programs for 20 minutes work well if you don’t have much time) and resistance training (strength training, Pilates, etc). Plus a bit of yoga or meditation here and there for mental health and stress management.

[@dawnkeckley7502]

She said she just enjoys moving and exercising. I spent four hours digging holes, spreading compost, and planting plants this morning (landscape maintenance worker). I’d consider that exercise, but I still plan on “exercising” later today. Since it’s going to rain, I’ll do a KZbin workout and lift. On nice days, I like to also go for a walk at night.

[@user-jh2wj6lg2d]

This was very educational BBC Team

[@boeingpameesha9550]

Thank you for sharing.

[@regalherbsman5938]

This was such a fascinating clip. Subbed.

[@duyenthanh7444]

This video opened my knowledge, thank you so much for this wonderful one. It’s the first time that I knew the fat works every time even when we speak,...

[@yogithashetty2587]

Thankyou for this great info

[@FriikD]

calorie deficit is the key in depleting fat cells, no matter what the studies say, this fact will never change. all exercise does is enable you to eat more, but you still have to figure out your metabolic rate and remain in a deficit if you wish to lose weight.

[@MariaMartinez-researcher]

"No matter what the studies say"? It's scientific studies what prove what is beneficial, neutral or harmful. Climate change certainty comes from multiple studies, same as germ theory (after debunking miasma theory), evolution theory (multiple religious texts and other scientific understandings) and the heliocentric model (almost all astronomy before Copernicus). Please, be careful. Traditional knowledge can be and has been debunked by studies.

[@LauraB.335]

Wrong. Fat loss is mostly hormonal, not calories. When insulin is too high, it becomes literally impossible to lose fat.

[@TheRst2001]

​@@LauraB.335the laws of physics apply to weight less. If you do not eat food you will lose weight as your body is using fat constantly

[@LafemmebearMusic]

So science told you the truth but your feelings say otherwise so that’s what matters? 😅

[@kenechukwudennis-okafor2421]

​@@LauraB.335 You are wrong. Calorie deficit is the key. I used to think like you till I ventured into watching what I eat....o boy...the results were astronomical. Mind you, I have tried exercises and the rest and they worked to an extent. But with calorie deficit, the results were visible in 2 months. I lost over 20kg in 2 months.

[@mcbrite]

I know that! I think it was 25% peed out, 75% breathed out? Maybe 1/3 to 2/3, it's been a while...

[@shashankdudhe6972]

Carbohydrates----->>> CO2 (Exhalation)+ H20 (Sweat)

[@sandravermes4219]

This is a great topic and so informative. Thank you!

[@dominican200]

Is the video incomplete and they just published it as is? Theres a layer missing: the actual video layer 😂😂😂

[@toddjal]

It’s a podcast, with a few added still pictures is all.

[@Lovelyone1]

Maybe no video because of copyright.

[@LauraB.335]

Carbohydrates are the only macronutrient not needed from food for survival. More and more people are putting the current theories to the test and determining carbs are not needed at all, even in athletics. There is a man who just ran five marathons in five days while fasting. He didn’t eat anything the whole five days. He used his body fat for fuel and made sure to drink enough water and get enough electrolytes. He didn’t hit the proverbial wall during this time either, as he was already fat adapted.

[@TheRst2001]

I'm not sure if fat adapted is the best phrase to use as it implies one can adjust there fat glycogen usage , words maybe more of a marketing angle. . Yes there may be some variation and I've read the fasted marathon runners try and raise this so they can ho as fast as possible without bonking at 20mikes and make the full 26miles . but I suspect the main bit is getting fit enough so you do not go over your lactate threshold , ie a low heart rate and just being fit. So I suspect this person ran at a speed slow enough to not tip the fat glycogen ratio too much to glycogen . But yes interesting , and makes sense the human body over millenia is designed very well to walk and jog

[@TheRst2001]

Think I've found the video Alex Mcdonald cheers

[@LafemmebearMusic]

We gotta be more careful how we take things out of context. Cus I found the video and with respect, you aren’t representing it accurately 😅. You got excited I get it but yeah that’s not what he did exactly. And the additional context was VERY helpful let’s try to be more accurate and less hyperbolic 😅

[@LauraB.335]

@@LafemmebearMusic - I didn’t take anything out of context. Some of the first words out of this gentleman’s mouth are: “I completed five marathons in five days, completely fasted.” He also talked about why and said that he wanted to demonstrate to himself that he could use fat reserves for an endurance event, instead of using what most people believe are necessary: carbohydrates. So, with respect, I am representing it quite accurately, as that is exactly what he did. Also, not using hyperbole at all when I say that carbs are the only macronutrient not needed from an external source for survival. On top of that, he’s a type 1 diabetic, which I think is amazing, given the B.S. out there about type 1s not being able to fast, especially for long periods. So I don’t know what you’re talking about. Let’s try to be more detailed and less vague when accusing others of taking things out of context and being hyperbolic.

[@LauraB.335]

@@TheRst2001 - just using the common vocabulary that most people use and that he used in his video, so that people know what I’m talking about.

[@BBCWorldService]

Click here to subscribe to our channel 👉🏽 bbc.in/3VyyriM

[@joelalvares8351]

Awesome stuff....subbed!! The narrator sounds really similar to the dude in peppa pig 😂

[@wanjiru2244]

Saddest play of events. My heart and prayers go out to his family😢

[@mepyhunter3747]

You can't get thinner from exercise, just cut sugar and carbohydrates... Because insulin is the on/off switch between fat burn and fat storage. You can't burn fat when insulin is high from sugar and carbohydrates.

[@cultmamacultmama3571]

To Connecticut! (If you know - you know) 😁

[@miriamelkaid6470]

Hoje 08/04, rogamos a Deus por Paz 🕊️ Justiça e Liberdade, para nossa Querida Mãe e Família 💞 !

[@weston.weston]

Exercise five hours a day? She must have a lot of extra time. I am physically active too, and I ❤ it but my work and other commitments don't allow me to work out five hours per day.

[@fundaozkan8193]

❤

[@FriikD]

obese Americans burning the same amount of calories a lean athlete does is nothing shocking. it's basic thermodynamics. if your organs have to work overtime to carry 100 extra pounds of fat, that takes more energy. that's also why obese people have a different bmi than a lean person. if you don't know anything about nutrition, which is the case for an overwhelming majority, then it's easy to over consume food, especially in the US where fast food and processed junk in general is so ingrained in culture.

[@PaperMario64]

Lipedema is a whole different beast.

[@shailendrawalia5551]

Does intermittent fasting work?

[@doracsiky]

it sure does!

[@lalonkarim1323]

The reason those Hadzas and Americans use the same number of calories even though they have very different activity levels is - the Americans are much heavier. Heavier people use more calories, even doing daily tasks.

[@nirupamasharma4389]

Does anyone know how to create brown fat?

[@maverick792]

High Intensity exercises 100 percent burn fat. But to get there requires a lot of time.

[@mscardioqueen]

Where's the b-roll?

[@aroundandround]

Poor production. There’s clearly visual plots being discussed but not being shown on a video platform.

[@Pou1gie1]

@2:00 Did she just say she works out 5 hours every day???

[@KP-gs1vl]

Funny. When I don’t run regularly I gain weight. When I do I lose it.

[@user-dc9uh1rs3k]

Without the video to watch yeah nah not for me

[@ntobekomtimkulu239]

Does this mean bodybuilding is "dangerous" in terms of reducing body fat to the extent that they do for competitions?

[@ericc.5460]

From my research; you lose fat by breathing it out, sweating it out and peeing it out.

[@user-pe7fu3hm4e]

Through the feces as well.

[@AmiVider]

Why is BBC health clip made so cheap graphically?

[@pharmclare]

Brown fat is amazing.

[@azmd888]

So what's the point of exercising, yes it's counter intuitive

[@1timbarrett]

You people are still stuck on the CICO myth, ie that Calories In = Calories Out. 😮 Yes, this is true in a CLOSED system, as per Isaac Newton’s First Law of Thermodynamics, but the human body is anything but a closed system…!

[@abbosimmo]

this is an important comment, it’s been proven that CICO doesn’t work for all, if their internal system is dysfunctional and does not fit that of an ideal human body/open system…

[@derekfrost8991]

low calorie food tends to do nothing for the body, so talking as tho all calories are equal is clearly wrong.. :)

[@TT-fn1xb]

Doing five hours of exercise a day and trying to keep a really low BMI sounds like a really difficult way to live.

[@markd.9538]

@@abbosimmoCICO works just fine; its just that the simplified in-out model forgets to take stored energy (fat deposits, etc) that is held in the body into account. Like a house with solar panels - if you add a battery into the mix, the more complex system makes it harder to predict the net power exported to the grid on a daily basis. But here’s the thing: the battery (fat stores) is not an infinite well of power - nothing is for free - the energy has to come from somewhere in the first place. So over a more valid timescale (months, not days), CICO is still correct.

[@gregorysorce1898]

Right. And Newton says if I run at the exact speed of light I would disappear. 😊

[@shaggy21605]

I disagree respectfully. 5 hrs? I’m a 13 yr cpt. No

[@user-pe7fu3hm4e]

Dietary fat is actually the healthiest macronutrient. It packs fat-soluble nutrients & it's nourishing for the brain.

[@jasonsmith1143]

walking is FREE but people still don't do it

[@shorttripsvn1444]

so exposure to cold is a good way to create brown fat?

[@apessy8904]

yes, huberman lab did an episode on this

[@britinbrazil7912]

So frustrating to hear absolutely no mention at all of low-carb high-fat diets in reducing weight and the importance of eating real food and animal products. There is so many RCTs that have already been completed and are ongoing that prove the link between obesity and our intake of highly processed foods and carbohydrates. It's a shame the BBC won't get on board with this.

[@tryderrick]

Literally what I was waiting for

[@What-The-Beef]

Too many vegetarians in position of power. Hell, they've been writing government dietary guidelines for a century so far.

[@LauraB.335]

Why do we keep trying to sell exercise being important for fat loss? I’m not saying don’t exercise, and I’m not saying it doesn’t help a little, but the vast majority of fat loss is what you eat. We have been lied to repeatedly about what to eat. First off, eat whole food, no processed food, grains, seed oils. Then, if you have metabolic issues (it’s estimated that 93% of American adults are metabolically unhealthy or have insulin resistance. Not sure about other countries), it means your body is becoming intolerant to carbohydrate, so the less carbohydrate you eat, the better. Then incorporate some fasting. It’s not always easy, but it is simple. Insulin resistance causes all modern chronic disease including cancer, type 2, obesity, PCOS, autoimmune, heart disease, etc. And the vast majority of folks can improve symptoms, if not completely reverse insulin resistance, as well as obesity, HBP, high glucose, type 2, PCOS, autoimmune by eating fewer carbs less often. If you want to add in exercise, go for it, BUT focus on food initially. Also, fat loss is mostly hormonal, not about calories. For those with metabolic issues, exercise without carbohydrate restriction will get you nowhere.

[@tdf123emcee2]

Of you exercise you are rewiring your metabolism and increase the production of "happy" hormones, hence reducing the stress of the day hence you don't fall into eating comfort food full of calories and sugar. You need to eat whole foods and greens, and protein in the correct amounts so you don't fall into the insulin spikes which contribute to insulin resistance .

[@emadfakhoury3546]

as diet determan how much we accumulate, and become obese, the video did at all touch that area at all, all what we have to do is to eat less animal fat, by avoiding meat, chicken, eggs, fish and dairy products. and have 80% of our food intakes from whole food plant base. and maintain an active life style, the podcast did not touch this area. as this knowledge about fat is important, but the podcast did not help those who suffer from obesity! I think it was a waste of time.

[@eduardoc6441]

Exerciaing five hours a day? Who has that amount of time to exercise. This video is for rich people

[@natalie3664]

CO2

[@areejsid8989]

Bad news

[@AmanAman-uy2gl]

Bullshit… my forefathers were the strongest men compared to the current generation men… they just ate Ghee, millets, milk yogurt , rice, vegetables and meet… 😂