3 Key Takeaways:

1. Stubborn fat is biologically wired to stay put. Subcutaneous fat (the pinchable ones on the belly, hips, and inner thighs) has more alpha-2 receptors that signal fat cells to store, not release energy.
2. Hormones, genetics, and aging all contribute. Declining estrogen levels, genetic predisposition, and the natural loss of muscle mass with age can encourage fat accumulation in stubborn areas.
3. Non-invasive fat reduction can address what lifestyle changes cannot. For localized fat deposits that resist diet and exercise, CoolSculpting Elite at Cutis offers a US FDA-cleared, non-surgical option to reduce fat layer thickness.

Why Stubborn Fat Won’t Budge & What Science Says About Getting Rid of It

Even with a proper diet and regular exercise, you’ve probably noticed that fat deposits on certain parts of the body simply won’t budge. The belly, hips, and inner thighs are the most common culprits. While other areas slim and tone down with your fitness efforts, these spots seem to hold on regardless of what you do.

If you’ve been putting in the work but see little to no results, it helps to understand why. What causes these stubborn fat deposits to accumulate in the first place? What makes them different from fat in other areas of the body? And are there options beyond lifestyle changes?

Continue reading as our aesthetic clinic in Singapore discusses fat accumulation in these stubborn areas, why it tends to resist diet and exercise, and how body contouring treatments like CoolSculpting Elite can help.

What are the types of body fat?

Not all fat is created equal. To understand why fat deposits around the belly and inner thighs are harder to lose, it helps to first look at the different types of body fat.

 

• White fat is composed of white cells and is located beneath the skin or around the organs in the belly, thighs, arms, and buttocks. This type of fat stores energy from the food you consume for later use. Too much of it is associated with obesity.
• Brown fat is present in smaller amounts in adults, commonly in the neck and shoulders. It stores and burns fat and helps regulate body temperature. Brown fat activates in cold temperatures and starts burning calories by warming you up.
• Beige fat is a combination of both white and brown fat cells that perform similar functions. Like brown fat, it stores energy but can burn it when exposed to cold. It also helps regulate body temperature.

Fat location and storage

While the body has different types of fat, most of it is white fat. The location of that fat, in most cases, can determine how easy or difficult it will be to lose.

Visceral fat is stored deep in the abdomen, surrounding major organs including the liver, intestines, kidneys, and heart. Small amounts are normal, but too much visceral fat carries significant health risks. Fortunately, this type of fat is highly responsive to a healthy diet and exercise.

Subcutaneous fat sits underneath the surface of the skin, padding bones and muscles. It is jiggly and pinchable, and is commonly found on the stomach, legs, and arms. It serves as an energy reserve, provides insulation, and produces hormones. The sad part is subcutaneous fat is harder to get rid of, even with consistent effort.

Note: With diet and exercise, excess visceral fat is generally burned first and lost at a faster rate than subcutaneous fat. It is more metabolically active and sensitive to fat-burning hormones. Subcutaneous fat, meanwhile, serves multiple biological functions and is designed to serve as a long-term energy reserve. It is less metabolically active and takes much more time and sustained effort to reduce.

Fat receptors and fat burning: Why some fat resists exercise

Fat cells have two types of receptors (Alpha-2 and Beta-2) that determine how they behave. A fat cell can have more or fewer of each, which influences how the cell responds to diet and physical activity.

• Alpha-2 receptors tell the cells to store energy for future use. Subcutaneous fat tends to have a higher concentration of alpha-2 receptors, which is why it resists diet and exercise. These receptors can hinder fat burning or keep the fat locked in.
• Beta-2 receptors tell the cells to release fat, helping to accelerate fat burning. Areas with more beta-2 receptors tend to respond more effectively to a calorie deficit and physical activity.

Common stubborn areas, such as the lower belly, hips, inner thighs, and chin, contain fat cells that are controlled by alpha-2 receptors. This is why losing these fat deposits is not necessarily a willpower issue; it is biology.

What causes fat to accumulate in the belly, hips, and thighs?

Consuming more calories than you burn can lead to excess weight. This can also contribute to an expanding waistline or increased fat in the lower body. But it is far from the only factor.

• Aging – as we get older, fat naturally increases while muscle mass and function decline, even in people who remain physically active.
• Hormonal fluctuations – particularly the declining levels of estrogen (that accompany perimenopause and menopause) influence where the body chooses to store fat. Many women notice an increase in belly fat during this time, even without gaining extra weight overall.
• Genetics – accounts for anywhere between 25% and 80% of where and how your body stores fat. This varies significantly from person to person.
• Life events – such as pregnancy can also lead to fat accumulation around the belly and inner thighs that persists long after the event itself.

For further reading: Belly Fat in Women: What Causes It and How Can You Trim It?

What can help trim stubborn fat?

Lifestyle changes do work, but consistency is everything. Eating a balanced diet and reducing your intake of processed foods and added sugars, incorporating high-intensity interval training (HIIT), cardiovascular activity, and strength training can all contribute to overall fat reduction over time.

A consultation with a healthcare provider or dietitian can help you identify the right adjustments for your specific goals and create a realistic, sustainable plan. Finding a routine you actually enjoy makes it significantly easier to stay consistent.

What about aesthetic treatments for stubborn fat?

If you have been consistent with diet and exercise but still notice fat deposits that don’t respond, non-invasive fat reduction treatments are worth considering. At Cutis Medical Laser Clinics in Singapore, we offer CoolSculpting Elite for patients looking to address these areas without surgery.

CoolSculpting Elite: Targeted fat reduction without surgery

CoolSculpting Elite is the upgraded version of the original CoolSculpting fat freezing system. It is a US FDA-cleared fat reduction treatment that uses controlled cooling to eliminate stubborn fat cells and help contour the body.  

How it works: The system uses Cryolipolysis (controlled cooling technology) to freeze and destroy fat cells without damaging the surrounding skin or tissue. This triggers apoptosis or natural cell death. 

The treated fat cells are then cleared through the lymphatic system and processed as waste in the liver, gradually reducing the fat layer thickness in the treated area.

Key features include:

• Dual applicators – two cooling panels can be used simultaneously, allowing treatment of two areas in a single session and reducing overall procedure time.
• C-shaped applicators – redesigned from the original U-shape to complement the body’s natural curves. This improves comfort and makes it easier to treat trickier areas, such as under the arms.
• 18% more skin surface coverage – the larger cooling surface means more fat cells can be targeted per session, potentially reducing the number of sessions required overall.
• Up to 27% fat reduction – compared to the original system’s 20 to 25%.

What areas can CoolSculpting Elite treat?

CoolSculpting Elite comes with seven C-shaped applicators of different sizes and is US FDA-cleared to treat visible fat bulges in nine areas of the body: 

1. Abdomen
2. Flanks
3. Inner and outer thighs 
4. Bra fat
5. Back fat
6. Upper arms
7. Buttocks (banana roll)
8. Under the chin (double chin)
9. Jawline 

Each session typically takes between 30 and 45 minutes per area. As the Elite system allows dual applicators to be used simultaneously, you can treat two areas at once, doubling the coverage in the same amount of time.

Who is a suitable candidate?

Good candidates for CoolSculpting Elite in Singapore are generally:

• Those who are at or near their ideal body weight
• Have localized, pinchable stubborn fat deposits that have not responded to diet and exercise
• Are in good general health.

It is important to have realistic expectations. CoolSculpting Elite is a body contouring treatment, not a weight-loss solution. It complements a healthy lifestyle, not replaces it.

How many CoolSculpting Elite treatments will you need?

While a single session of CoolSculpting Elite delivers improvements, most patients need a series of treatments for optimal results. This depends on your individual profile and the areas to be treated. Some spots may only require 1 to 2 treatments, while others may need more spaced a month or more apart.

Are there side effects or downtime?

Minor redness, swelling, and temporary numbness or tingling in the treated area are common after the procedure and typically resolve within a few hours to a few days. There is no downtime, and patients can return to their normal activities immediately after each session.

What results to expect

Initial improvements may be visible as early as three to four weeks following treatment. Full results typically appear within three to four months as the body gradually flushes out the treated fat cells.

Schedule a consultation and body assessment

Struggling with stubborn fat on the belly, hips, or thighs that won’t budge to diet and exercise? Lifestyle changes can help, but you don’t have to solely rely on them. 

WhatsApp us today at +65 9780 2079 to schedule a body assessment and consultation with one of our aesthetic doctors in Singapore and find out whether CoolSculpting Elite is right for you.