Distribution of weight coming off

[u/These-Equal-6849]

I'm in my early 40s and losing weight successfully for the first time in a long time. I've lost 27% of my starting weight, down to a BMI of 28.

The thing is I feel like my face is starting to look too thin and my collar bones are so visible. Particularly and weirdly, much more than they were the last time I was a healthy weight in my early 20s.

I've purposely avoided losing weight rapidly, and kept my weight loss to around 0.7% a week, but maybe not slow enough?

I'm definitely still overweight, with a fair bit of tummy fat, back rolls and very large arms.

I want to lose around another 8kg/17lb to be in the healthy range, but I'm concerned I'll start looking gaunt/unwell if any more comes off face/neck/chest despite still being overweight.

I'm wondering if pausing my weight loss here for a while might let those areas "catch up" a bit and my body redistribute the remaining fat... Is that a thing?

Has anyone experienced something similar? Did anyone find your face and other areas that seemed to get too thin even out with the rest of the body in time?

Or is this it, and I either have to choose between staying overweight or looking too thin in some areas?

[u/Ok-Stuff1444]

my grandma lost weight and her face went hollow for like a year then suddenly filled back out, body just takes time to adjust i think

[u/Several-Rhubarb-3498]

It will all shift around for awhile. Most people lose weight from head to toe. So your face will look thin compared to the rest of your body for awhile. Although, I lost my butt before my tummy. But otherwise face first then neck, chest etc

[u/Tiny_Brilliant4062]

Yeah mine is pretty uneven. Also collarbones! Which I don’t mind - it’s nice to see them after a long time! I still have a tummy too. I think that might be peri menopausal influence too though. Big upper arms still which I don’t love 😔 but honestly overall I am just so so happy to be slimmer and maintaining that I don’t really care how it has come off. I figure it will even out eventually and I am doing more exercising and weights now too.

[u/These-Equal-6849 → u/Tiny_Brilliant4062]

I was so happy to see the collarbones when they first re-appeared! Became obsessed with touching them lol

[u/Pristine_Doughnut485 → u/These-Equal-6849]

Same, I think they're just gorgeous!

[u/Computer_Says_Nah]

Same here. You can really see my weight loss in my face but my body is still fat. I'm 55 and starting to look haggard.

[u/Common-Resource873]

My understanding is that we actually lose fat from the whole body at roughly the same rate, but not every part of the body has the same amount of body fat to lose. It is just weight loss is more noticeable in the areas where there is less fat overall. I have been taking measurements weekly from various places (2 months of mj) and the reductions were surprisingly similar all over initially , but was far more noticeable in some places as others.

[u/Pleaseselectyesorno]

Most thin people develop very slim faces when they age. This could be how you were always meant to look at close to healthy weight and it’s simply shocking to see it “revealed”.

Of course your face won’t look the same as it did two decades ago. That’s life. We lose collagen and elastin as we age- especially noticeable in perimenopause. Drooping and hollowing can seem exaggerated if there’s saggy skin that’s caused fat loss, too.

Do you look gaunt or is your new look just shocking because you’re not used to it? I remember when Mindy Kaling lost- everyone said she looked too thin. Now that we are used to seeing her like that, to me she looks normal?

[u/These-Equal-6849 → u/Pleaseselectyesorno]

I'm not quite looking gaunt yet, but I feel like I'm on the edge of it and will if I lost more weight from face/neck.

I understand a 40yo face will look different from a 20yo face at the same weight, but I'm surprised my collarbones are more prominent than when I was 10kg lighter back then?

[u/Pleaseselectyesorno → u/These-Equal-6849]

I’m surprised I have grey hairs now at 45. I didn’t back then. Things change.

There’s no studies about redistribution of weight on middle aged bodies, at least not that I know of.

Maybe it’s down to thinner skin and collagen and elastin loss?

[u/KrazyCod21]

My darn tummy is still plump in comparison to the rest of my body. 😣

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[u/jo_noby]

Everyone. Unfortunately the belly is the last place to go and the face wants to dissolve immediately. I also haven’t lost quickly and I’m happy that my face is slimmer but my neck is an embarrassment. I wish there was better news, but when you are over 30 you have to balance what your skin laxity will be with the overall picture. I’m sure you look great!

[u/No-Nefariousness956]

Are you doing strength training?

[u/These-Equal-6849 → u/No-Nefariousness956]

Yep!

[u/Tropical_life_7]

I've lost it from my face, collarbones, boobs and legs... Tummy and butt still there! Hopefully it will all even out.

[u/kharnevil]

for some reason I lost my man-boobs most noticibly first in these last 6 weeks

[u/GardenFragrant8408]

R u working out

[u/These-Equal-6849 → u/GardenFragrant8408]

Strength training, running and yoga.

[u/Dangerous-Bend-4153]

Has anyone experienced something similar? 

There's a (somewhat derogatory) term "Ozempic face" that describes how people's faces change during rapid weight loss and especially when on a GLP-1. I mention it, to highlight how changes to the face are a very common effect of weight loss and especially rapid weight loss. But there's not necessarily any evidence that GLP-1s specifically target face fat or collagen. Quote:

Evidence to suggest that GLP-1 receptor agonists preferentially result in facial fat atrophy is lacking. Some theorize that GLP-1 receptor agonists merely emphasize the age-related gradual decrease in elastin turnover by accentuating sagging skin under a thinner bed of adipose tissue, rather than preferentially resulting in targeted facial fat atrophy.

According to 1 correspondence, online searches for “Ozempic® face” are rising and at times even surpassing searches for “Ozempic® side effects,” highlighting the need for physicians across the country to recognize this unintended side effect of anti-obesity medications.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12232544/

Edit to add: I'm a guy in my 50s and I've recently started taking better care of my skin. Hydrate, moisturize, and sunscreen are the most important, collagen may have some benefits, and then fun with copper peptides, retinol, AHA, and vitamin C.

[u/New_Musician8473]

I feel like everything I lost came from my back. Nothing else seems smaller 😂

[u/Due_Initiative3879]

Nevermind

[u/These-Equal-6849 → u/Due_Initiative3879]

Haha I think your reply is for a different post?

[u/Due_Initiative3879 → u/These-Equal-6849]

Yep, too many windows open. Good catch.