How much weight loss causes loose skin?
When one experiences rapid weight loss of about 20kg or more, the chances of loose skin increases as the collagen fibres do not have time to adapt and recover.
June 12, 2025
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DEFINITION OF OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY
The World Health Organisation's (WHO) latest reports[1] reveal a sobering truth – over 2 billion adults worldwide now carry excess weight, with nearly 800 million living with obesity. This isn't just a statistic, it's a global health crisis.
Every extra pound grinds down joints, escalating osteoarthritis risk and affecting quality of life. Carrying extra weight does more than change how clothes fit.
It also fuels life-altering health challenges like:
- Coronary heart disease
- Type 2 diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Strokes
Here's what we know at Amaris B. Clinic: True transformation isn't about chasing smaller digits on a scale. It's about rebuilding your body's resilience and ultimately improving the quality of life!
Body Mass Index (BMI)
Overweight and obesity are defined as having excessive fat accumulation that may impair health.
BMI Formula = kg/m2
(Where kg is a person’s weight and m2 is their height in metres squared)
According to the definition of the World Health Organization (WHO), an adult is considered:
- Underweight: BMI is < 18.5
- Normal weight: BMI is between 18.5 - 24.9
- Overweight: BMI is ≥ 25
- Pre-obese: BMI is 25 - 29.9
- Obesity: BMI is ≥ 30
What leads to overweight and obesity?
An energy imbalance between calorie intake and calorie output is the fundamental cause of overweight and obesity.
For example, when your food intake is high in fat and sugars coupled with physical inactivity OR when you eat more required calories, your body converts and stores the extra calories as body fat.
The good news is that being overweight and obese is preventable.
Losing weight requires willpower and dedication and, more importantly, making appropriate lifestyle changes and adopting the right methods.
HEALTH BENEFIT OF WEIGHT LOSS
The main motivator for those who want to lose weight is to improve overall health, lower the risks of chronic disease, enhance self-confidence and improve their quality of life, such as mood, sleep and energy level.
According to clinical data, an average weight loss of 5 to 10 percent of the body weight can significantly improve blood pressure, blood sugar and blood cholesterol[2].
Scroll to view the table
| Diagnosis | Weight loss targets | Expected outcome [3] |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-diabetes | 10% | Prevent the onset of T2DM |
| T2DM | 5% - 15% |
|
| Dyslipidemia | 5% - 15% |
|
| Hypertension | 5% - 15% | Lower blood pressure decrease in medications |
| GERD | ≥ 10% | Reduced symptoms |
| Fatty liver disease | 10% - 40% | Reduction in liver fat and inflammation |
| Osteoarthritis | 5% - 10% or more | Improve joint pain when coupled with exercise |
| Sleep apnoea | 7% - 11% | Decrease apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) |
| PCOS | 5% - 15% |
|
Remarks:
- GERD: Gastroesophageal reflux disease
- HDL: High density lipoprotein
- LDL: Low density lipoprotein
- NAFLD: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
- T2DM: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Based on Dr Ivan Puah’s experience in helping patients lose the extra kilos over the years, he concluded that patients who embarked on weight loss in a gradual manner (0.45kg to 0.9kg loss/week) are more likely to keep it off than those who lose a drastic amount of weight within a short period.
UNDERSTANDING ENERGY BALANCE AND CALORIES
Our bodies need nutritional energy such as fats, carbohydrates and proteins so that our vital organs can function properly. We fuel our bodies with energy when we eat and drink, which is used up through everyday movement.
How many calories will I need?
To maintain a stable weight:
ENERGY (IN) = ENERGY (*USED)
*For normal bodily functions/physical activity
When we talk about maintaining a healthy diet, it means balancing the energy one puts into the body with the energy used.
According to Health Promotion Board Singapore, the daily calorie intake for most females is 1800 kcal.
For most males, the daily calorie intake is 2200 kcal. However, factors such as age, gender, physical activity level and body size also affect the amount of calories your body will need to keep going.
Can you explain what calories are?
A calorie is a unit used to measure the energy value of food.
Your body will require fat, carbohydrates, proteins, minerals, vitamins and water to function properly. Carbohydrates and protein yield 4 calories per gram, while fat yields 9 calories per gram.
To lose weight, an individual will need to consume FEWER calories than the body needs each day.
AMARIS B’S WEIGHT LOSS & MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME
1. Consultation
Dr Puah will:
- assess patient’s health condition
- discuss detailed weight loss goals
- develop an appropriate plan
2. Patient education
To lose and maintain weight effectively, Dr Puah believes that when patients should have the:
- right knowledge
- fact-based information
- science-based approach
3. Root cause
Weight loss is more complex than just calories in and out. Factors that play a part in the energy imbalance:
- hormonal changes
- genetics
- health condition
- age
4. Medical intervention
The programme incorporates medical interventions.
Oral or injectable metabolic medications that help to suppress the neuroendocrine pathway for a more sustainable weight loss.
5. Holistic approach
A holistic approach to weight loss encompasses a body, mind and health approach.
MLD can help:
- Improve your digestive system
- Stimulate blood flow
- Improve lymphatic fluid flow
- Calm your nervous system
6. Skin care
Gaining and losing weight quickly can stretch the skin, leading to sagginess, stretch marks and cellulite like the waist and thighs.
This calls for skin treatments such as:
- Lasers
- Medical-grade skin peels
- Ultherapy
IS WEIGHT LOSS THE SAME AS FAT LOSS?
We often have patients asking this question, and understandably, it is easy to confuse the two. After all, isn’t losing weight and losing fat too?
In essence, weight loss indicates an overall body weight reduction from muscle, fat and water and a drop in your kilo weight. Fat loss is a reduction of fat mass.
Difference between subcutaneous fat vs viscreral fat
Fat tissue (aka adipose tissue) is responsible for storing fat (triglycerides) in our body.
Subcutaneous fat is the soft, pinchable fat under the skin.In comparison, intra-abdominal fat (visceral fat) is out of reach and packs around internal organs.
Under the influence of sex hormone production, males store more visceral fat, while women store more subcutaneous fat.
WHY AM I LOSING WEIGHT BUT MY ARMS STILL CAN’T SLIM DOWN?
Weight loss can improve your overall health and fitness level and give you more energy.
However, you can’t dictate the body to burn more fat or slim down on the specific body parts you want to.
Liposuction for targeted fat loss
Liposuction is the solution to get rid of the localised fat that does not respond to diet or workout.
This body contouring procedure can help remove stubborn and excess subcutaneous fat for a slimmer and more contoured physique. It can remove fat from the face, arms, armpits, male chest, back, belly, waist, hips, thighs, knees and calves.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT FAD DIETS
It’s purported that a fad diet can encourage rapid weight loss, which is enough to make many people overlook that there is not much scientific evidence behind its claims.
Followers of fad diets often find themselves having to submit to a regime that includes restrictions on what and when certain foods should be consumed. These often involve consuming unnecessary and expensive food items and/or supplements. There is no bullet magic when it comes to weight loss.
Weight loss should be done correctly because shortcuts and cutting corners can lead to potentially severe outcomes.
Other red flags to look out for include the following:
Eating only one type of food
Cutting out a type of food may be recommended for medical reasons but consuming only one type is inadvisable.
No one food group can fulfil a body’s needs.
promise of rapid weight loss
Rapid weight loss can be detrimental to a person.
The body will go into chaos mode to deal with the hyper loss, which can lead to many other health issues.
A generic diet plan
We are unique, so should our weight loss plan.
Understanding our body is crucial so that a tailored program can be drawn up to achieve true success - safely.
Weight loss is solely about appearance
Undoubtedly, looking good helps raise a person’s confidence.
Still, a real weight loss program should always include their well-being beyond what’s on the outside.
Unclear or no scientific evidence support
This is very important because any claim that can make a person healthier, such as weight loss, should always be backed by clear scientific evidence and/or proof.
Others
One should consult an expert before embarking on a weight loss plan.
The first step is to arrange for a consultation to understand your body. The goal is to lose weight without compromising your wellbeing.
DOCTOR-LED WEIGHT LOSS & MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME
At Amaris B. Clinic, we understand the quest to shed extra weight can be daunting for many.
We provide tailored medical weight loss and management programmes prescribed by our medical director, Dr Ivan Puah, who holds a Graduate Diploma in Sports Medicine.
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FAQ
What causes unintentional weight gain?
A decrease in estrogen can cause women in menopause to experience weight gain around the abdominal region and the hips.
Hormonal changes in your middle years can also cause your metabolism to slow down, leading to weight gain.
Other medical conditions affecting hormone levels can cause weight gain in both sexes.
Can an ovarian cyst cause you to gain weight?
Ovarian cysts can cause you to gain weight.
Some cysts are hormone-secreting cysts, which impact your health and weight.
PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) is also interrelated to metabolic issues. This, in turn, can lead to weight gain.
Why does weight keep increasing?
The usual suspect for weight gain is consuming more calories than your body needs and burns. But the underlying problem could be an unknown health condition.
What kind of food causes weight gain?
Foods that cause the most weight gain include french fries, potato chips, sugar-sweetened drinks, fatty meat, processed meats, trans fat, potatoes, sweets and pastries.
Why can’t I lose weight despite exercising?
You lose weight in the kitchen but gain health in the gym. What you eat in private shows in public, so begin your weight loss journey from the kitchen.
Eating the right food depends on your blood type, metabolism and more. The safest bet is to consume au naturale whole food.
I dieted and lost weight but why do I feel weak and tired?
While being overweight and obese is bad for your health, losing weight too fast is equally detrimental to your health.
If you lose more than 1 kg a week for a sustained period, it is termed as "extreme weight loss."
You may notice that you feel cold frequently, your hair becomes brittle and falls off easily, and as your body is deprived of essential nutrients, feelings of weakness and fainting spells can occur.
Due to insufficient calorie intake, your energy level takes a hit, too, causing you to feel tired, moody and weak.
A drastic or extreme diet is strongly discouraged as it can lead to electrolyte imbalances (these are critical for cellular function), a loss of muscle mass, gallstone formation, and a decrease in metabolism rate.
I noticed that I lost weight, but I am not dieting. Should I be worried?
If you are experiencing unusual weight loss over six months and losing more than 10 percent of your body weight, you should seek immediate medical attention.
Medical conditions that could possibly lead to unusual weight loss include thyroid-related problems, rheumatoid arthritis, gut-related diseases, diabetes, cancer, or clinical depression.
Does sleep deprivation cause you to lose weight?
Sleep deprivation causes hormonal imbalance, and this can lead to weight gain. But for the modern woman, getting adequate sleep is a luxury few have.
It’s hard enough trying to juggle a successful career with other responsibilities. The last thing you need is excess weight pulling you back and slowing you down.
Reference
[1] https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight
[2] Health Effects of Overweight and Obesity from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC 24/7) https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1273437-overview
[3] Garvey WT, Mechanick JI, Brett EM, Garber AJ, Hurley DL, Jastreboff AM, Nadolsky K, Pessah-Pollack R, Plodkowski R; Reviewers of the AACE/ACE Obesity Clinical Practice Guidelines. AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGISTS AND AMERICAN COLLEGE OF ENDOCRINOLOGY COMPREHENSIVE CLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINES FOR MEDICAL CARE OF PATIENTS WITH OBESITY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Complete Guidelines available at https://www.aace.com/publications/guidelines. Endocr Pract. 2016 Jul;22(7):842-84. doi: 10.4158/EP161356.ESGL. PMID: 27472012.)
Table Source
https://www.ntfgh.com.sg/our-services/multi-disciplinary-care-services/weight-management-multi-disciplinary-care
AMPLIFY YOUR RESULTS WITH...
4D Lipo (Hi-Definition Lipo)
Dr Ivan Puah's novel 360° Glandular Tissue Dissection (360°GTD®) technique minimises surgical invasiveness while achieving cosmetic results.
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Vaser Lipo (UAL)
Dr Ivan Puah's novel 360° Glandular Tissue Dissection (360°GTD®) technique minimises surgical invasiveness while achieving cosmetic results.
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MLD Therapy
Dr Ivan Puah's novel 360° Glandular Tissue Dissection (360°GTD®) technique minimises surgical invasiveness while achieving cosmetic results.
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