Body Visualizer › Before and after
Losing 40 pounds: what 240 to 200 lb looks like on a woman
A 5′5″ woman at 240 lb and at 200 lb, side by side. That is 16.7% of body weight, and it takes BMI from 39.9 (very obese) to 33.3 (obese). Change the height, body type or model below to see the same change on someone more like you.
Each body turns once. Tap a body to pause it, tap again to resume, and tap when it stops to see all angles again.
What changes between 240 and 200 pounds
From 240 to 200 lb a 5′5″ woman comes down from the top of the very obese range to obese. The very large belly becomes a rounder, smaller one, the neck and face slim, and moving around, from stairs to getting up off the floor, usually gets noticeably easier.
At 240 lb a 5′5″ woman usually has a large round belly, a very thick waist and heavy arms, thighs and face. At 200 lb that becomes a noticeably round belly that sits over the waistband, a thick waist and heavy arms and thighs. 200 lb is still above the healthy range for this height, which tops out at about 150 lb, so for many people this is a first milestone rather than the finish line.
Here is the same change in 10 lb steps. The models move in steps of about 10 lb, so one step can look small; it is the run of them that adds up.
How long losing 40 pounds takes
A common rule of thumb is that eating about 500 calories a day less than you burn loses roughly a pound a week, and a pace of 1 to 2 pounds a week is what most guidance treats as sustainable. At that pace 40 lb takes about 20 to 40 weeks, roughly 5 to 10 months. Real progress is rarely a straight line: the first weeks often move faster (partly water), and plateaus are normal.
240 to 200 lb at other heights
The same 40 pounds means something different on a shorter or taller woman.
| Height | Before | After | Healthy range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4′11″ | BMI 48.5, severely obese | BMI 40.4, severely obese | 92–123 lb |
| 5′1″ | BMI 45.3, severely obese | BMI 37.8, very obese | 98–132 lb |
| 5′3″ | BMI 42.5, severely obese | BMI 35.4, very obese | 104–141 lb |
| 5′5″ | BMI 39.9, very obese | BMI 33.3, obese | 111–150 lb |
| 5′7″ | BMI 37.6, very obese | BMI 31.3, obese | 118–159 lb |
| 5′9″ | BMI 35.4, very obese | BMI 29.5, overweight | 125–169 lb |
| 5′11″ | BMI 33.5, obese | BMI 27.9, overweight | 133–179 lb |
See what 240 pounds looks like on a woman and what 200 pounds looks like.
Get a check-up first
Starting from 240 lb it is worth seeing a doctor before beginning, to check blood pressure, blood sugar and any medicines whose doses may need to change as the weight comes off. Losing 40 lb from here is about a sixth of body weight, which is a large change for the heart and joints in a good way.
Similar before and afters
Where to start
- Healthy weight loss tipsWhat actually works, without crash diets.
- A calorie counting guideFind your number and track it simply.
- A 30-day walking routineThe easiest habit to begin today.
- Meal prep ideasCook once, eat well all week.
About these pictures
The before and after bodies are the original pre-rendered 3D models, which turn once so you can see every angle. The same steps are also shown as AI-generated front views of a second woman and of a man; pick them under Model above.
Sources: BMI categories from the CDC; waist guidance from the NIH (NHLBI); pace of loss from the CDC. How these pages are made.
These pictures are a visualization from a small set of pre-made body models, not a prediction for you, and BMI is only a rough screening number. Before starting a weight loss plan, especially a large one, talk to your doctor.