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What Is the ‘Paper Towel Effect’ During Weight Loss? An Expert Explains (Today)

Posted: Aug 20, 2026 in In the News

This article originally appeared on Today on August 20, 2026.

Just when it seems your weight isn’t budging, the “paper towel effect” comes into play.

Prevalent in gym conversations and in online spaces dedicated to fitness and weight loss, the term isn’t rooted in physiology, nor is it a scientific phenomenon...

Instead, it “serves as an accessible way to explain why changes in body shape and appearance often become more noticeable as someone loses body fat over time,” Cedric X. Bryant, Ph.D., chief executive officer at the American Council on Exercise, tells TODAY.com...

Read the full article here.