In order to lose weight, most of us know it’s a matter of eating less and being more physically active. By putting our body into a calorie deficit, we “burn” more calories than we’re taking in – and so we lose weight.

But while most of us are familiar with how to make weight loss happen, we rarely think about where the weight actually goes when we lose it – other than off the scale and away from our waistlines.

If you’re not sure where the weight goes, you’re not alone – there’s even confusion among dietitians and doctors. But if you want a hint at the answer, you’re going to want to take a deep breath – and exhale.

When we lose weight, we primarily lose body fat. This fat has been taken from the foods we eat and stored by the body.

Any fat we consume, our digestive system breaks down into its smallest components, called fatty acids. These fatty acids are then........

© The Conversation