What is Fat?

Fat is a part of everyone's body. Fats are composed of glycerols and acids that can be solid or liquid and usually insoluble in water. Also called lipids, fats or oils that cannot mix with water are necessary for many life forms. There are many different types of fats, saturated and unsaturated.

Fats are an important part of nutrition. They are necessary for the absorption and digestion of vitamins K, E, D, and A. Essential fatty acids are needed for healthy body function. Fats support healthy skin and hair, proper body temperature, and serve as protection for organs from shock. Fat also serves as stored energy in the body, as it can break down into glycerol, which becomes glucose.

Edible fats are found in meats, fish, milk, soybeans, olives and nuts. Vegetable shortening and margarine are manufactured fats that come from these sources.

The three major types of fat are saturated, polyunsaturated, and monounsaturated. Saturated fats add to the cholesterol that lines the arteries and its intake should b limited. Polyunsaturated facts have little effect on cholesterol. Monounsaturated fat is the healthiest type of fat and increases the body's good cholesterol, which reduces the amount of bad cholesterol that clogs arteries.

People may call themselves or other people "fat," but what does that really mean? This usually means that a person is larger in size than the average person, or lack muscular shape in various parts of the body. In reality, everyone has some fat in their body and we all need it. The problem is that we often accumulate much more than we need to.

The more fat we accumulate, the larger our bodies become. For a person to truly be considered "fat" or obese, they need to have a body mass index that is greater than 30. The body mass index is determined by your height and weight ratio. It is your weight in pounds divided by your height in inches. If your BMI is higher than 30, you are considered obese, and should lose some fat.

There are several disease risk factors that increase when a person is considered "fat." These include heart disease, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and gallbladder disease. Losing the extra fat is essential in reducing the risks of these problems developing. It is terribly unhealthy to carry large amounts of extra fat, and losing the excess can help people feel better physically and emotionally.