Fat is the enemy as far as most people are concerned, and every year thousands of diets and exercise plans are created to destroy it. Understanding why the body produces fat cells and how they are used can help alleviate some of this hatred of fat. It is also important to gain as much information as possible about this subject in order to get the most out of dieting and exercise.
Fat Fundamentals
Fat, in its most basic sense, is stored energy and keeps the body functioning properly. After food consumption, the body transforms protein, dietary fat and carbohydrates into glucose (blood sugar), amino acids, and fatty acids (the building blocks of body fat.) These chemicals are then either stored or burned right away.
Fat Cells
Fat cells contain the standard equipment found in every cell, including a nucleus and mitochondria. Eighty five percent of the cell's volume, however, is the fat created after eating. These cells are also extremely elastic and are continuously produced through adult life. Michelle Andrews, contributing writer for Women's Health Magazine, found through her research that the "average non-overweight adult has roughly 30 to 40 billion fat cells, someone who is very obese might have as many as 100 billion. And once you've got a fat cell, there's no way to get rid of it" except through liposuction.
Pros and Cons of Body Fat
Pros: In addition to storing energy, fat is used as a cushion around vital organs for protection. It also provides a layer of insulation, keeping the body warm. Newborns have "pockets of a kind of fat called brown adipose tissue in their neck and shoulders that actually generates heat," says Andrews. Also, fat is important as it provides safety against starvation.
Cons: Excess body fat can lead to health problems, such as diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease. Visceral fat, or stomach fat, gets packed around important organs, including the liver and heart. Andrews explains that "it can clog your arteries and drain right into your liver, where it can impair the organ's vital functions, like converting food into nutrients and removing harmful substances from your system."
Understanding Fat
Knowing how fat is used by the body and other basic fundamentals is important for the serious fitness guru. The more information gathered, the easier it is to achieve total fitness. Instead of simply loathing fat, obtaining information will allow the trainee to have a broader understanding of fat's function within the body and perspective on how to combat excess weight.
Reference/Source:
Women's Health Magazine article "A Matter of Fat," by Michelle Andrews. July/August Edition, 2006.
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