Body Fat

What Is Body Fat?

Fat is one of the basic components that make up the structure of your body. Fat is needed by the body for temperature regulation, shock absorption, proper reproductive capabilities (particularly in women), the regulation of other nutrients and to maintain healthy skin, hair and nails.

Fat is formed when we eat more calories than our body needs. Excess carbohydrate is converted to fat if the body does not burn it off through activity.

Type of Fat

White fat is important for energy metabolism, heat insulation and cushioning of the bones and organs.

Brown fat on the other hand is found most often in newborn babies and is located between the shoulder blades. This fat's purpose is to generate heat to keep them warm.

Body fat can be divided into two categories; Essential fat and Storage fat.

Essential Fat
Essential fat is necessary for normal, healthy functioning. It is stored in small amounts in your bone marrow, organs, central nervous system and muscles.

# In men, essential fat is approximately 3 percent of body weight.

# Women, however, have a higher percentage of essential fat - about 12 percent. This is because their essential fat also includes some sex-specific fat found in the breasts, pelvis, hips and thighs. This sex-specific fat is believed to be critical for normal reproductive function.


Storage Fat

Fat that accumulate beneath your skin, in certain specific areas inside your body, and in your muscles. It also includes the deep fat that protects your internal organs from injury.

Points to note - storage fat:
# increases when you gain weight


Tips for burning fat

# Do activities like aerobic, walking, swimming, cycling, running, etc. Combine this with some muscle strengthening exercises. Calories are burnt during these activities as your metabolism increases.

# Start exercising first thing in the morning as it will burn up to 3x as more fat as opposed to working out at any other time during the day.

# Go easy on junk snacks, fried, fast foods, carbonated drinks.
Unlike sugar found in fruits, sugar in these foods or drink is the kind of sugars that burns quickly. If your body is processing sugar to create energy, and you’re not using any energy, those sugars will be converted into fat for later use.



Info. provided here is for general knowledge purpose. Contact a physician or other health care professional before engaging in any activity related to health and diet.