Does Creatine Really Make You Fat?

Writer and expert8 years ago

Creatine is a highly researched and highly popular sports nutrition supplement that is used by gym-goers of all levels and abilities. It’s surrounded by a lot of myths, however it’s a completely natural substance that’s actually made by the body itself. This article is here to shed a little more light on creatine.

What is creatine?

Creatine isa naturally occuring compound found in the body. It combines with another compound called phosphagen to result in PCr (phosphocreatine) which helps muscle contraction. When doing a squat for example, a movement which is very powerful and doesn’t last too long, your body will use creatine to make ATP for energy.ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is the main source of energy in the body.

Does creatine make you fat?

This may sound like an odd statement considering that creatine is a highly effective supplement that’s been scientifically proven to increase exercise performance, however, creatine supplementation can result in water retention. This means that creatine draws water towards the muscles therefore making your muscles look more full. This can lead to some users feeling that they look bloated or ‘fat’ after taking creatine.

So when people say, “will creatine make you fat?”, the answer is, no, it won’t. It’s probably just water weight that people are noticing.

Take Home Message

Creatine is a naturally occurring compound in the body, and by taking creatine you just allow your body to replenish the amount of ATP it has access to at a quicker rate.

Another thing is, when on creatine and even when not taking creatine, you should make sure you drink enough water, as staying hydrated is key when on or off creatine.

Finally, creatine doesn’t make you fat, it just draws more water to the muscles making them seem more full and therefore the increased water intake can make an athlete weigh more.