Dear Mark: Excess Skin After Major Weight Loss?by
Mark Sisson Recently by Mark Sisson: I Am a Strong, Happy, Healthy, Life-Loving Man
Today's Dear Mark topic is a sensitive one: excess, or loose skin after major weight loss. This is a problem for a lot of people, and it can really take the sails out of someone who's had otherwise seamless success losing weight. I may ruffle a few feathers here, but I assure my intent is merely to give folks who have loose skin the best shot at reaching their desired body composition. So, as you read my response to the reader question, keep that in mind. With that said, let's get to it:
Before getting into potential methods of treating and/or preventing excess skin after weight loss, let's explore the phenomenon itself. What exactly is loose, or excess skin?
Most cases of loose skin are actually just cases of excess subcutaneous body fat covered by skin. And because subcutaneous fat is "soft" fat, it is looser and easier to confuse with skin. It droops and jiggles and the skin that surrounds it conforms to its shape. That's not to suggest that legitimately loose skin isn't a real problem, because it is. But I would wager that many if not most cases of loose skin can be explained by overly stubborn deposits of subcutaneous fat. Stubborn fat is actually a real thing. As Martin Berkhan explains, adipose tissue is full of alpha-2 and beta-2 receptors. A-2 and b-2 receptors are the major lipolytic receptors in adipose tissue, meaning they interact with the catecholamines (adrenaline and noradrenaline) to cause stored body fat to release. B-2 receptors are associated with "easy fat," or fat that burns off easily. A-2 receptors are associated with "stubborn fat," or fat that's harder to burn. All adipose tissue has both a-2 and b-2 receptors, and the higher the b-2:a-2 ratio, the easier it is to burn the fat. The lower the ratio, the more stubborn the fat. Belly fat has a notoriously low b-2:a-2 ratio, which is why it's usually the last to go (especially for men). If your belly fat is stubborn, it may resemble loose skin even as the rest of your body has mostly leaned out. If your loose skin is thicker than a few millimeters, there is residual body fat. And because adipose tissue – which, remember, is actually a major endocrine organ, rather than an inert piece of tissue – remains, the skin has no reason to return to its former size and elasticity. As long as the subcutaneous fat attached to it remains, the skin will appear loose and drape-y. Skin that fills your hand when you squeeze it isn't just skin. This isn't really bad news, believe it or not. It actually means that you're almost there. It means that your "loose skin" isn't necessarily out of your control. If indeed it is simply stubborn subcutaneous fat, once you manage to lose the excess fat, the "loose skin" might just disappear along with it. In fact, I'd imagine that most such cases of "loose skin" can and will be remedied in this manner. Men, get down to around 10-12% body fat before you start considering surgery or anything drastic. Women, get down to 15-17% body fat before taking any surgical steps. Hey, if that sounded harsh to you, at least I'm not as bad as Ron Brown, PhD, who claims loose skin is nothing but a myth. Go ahead and check out his argument, but try to avoid meeting his steely gaze. Lock eyes with Dr. Ron at your own peril; you will be consumed. Despite the intense shirtless photo, he has a point that skin is not a passive slab of flesh. Instead, it is an active organ that should be able to adapt to the body's "internal and external environment." March 26, 2012 Copyright © 2012 Mark's Daily Apple
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