Fat gained vs. fat lost

[Snetho]

Does fat depletion work in the reverse order that it appeared? In other words, if my belly was fat and then my neck area became fat and I started to diet and exercise, would the fat go away from the neck area before it started to deplete from the belly area?

[jimmmy]

I swing wildly between a Hippo-style and svelte swimmer body.

My experience is that "saddle bags" precede the belly growing bigger itself (of course a little belly is first).

With exercise and diet, the saddlebags disappear before the belly.

I saw a lady selling protein shakes on TV saying that was due to the fact that belly fat was more "stored" (or some crap) than the fat in the love handles. I don't claim that is why -- but my personal experience is that my body performs as if it is true.

I would suppose that is the answer: that it depends on your body type, the exercise you do, the food you diet with, and how you gained the weight in the first place.