Without the capacity to store energy in the form of fat, we would have been unlikely to survive through millions of years of evolution and we would certainly look very different to the way we look today. We needed the capacity to store energy to survive periods of famine, and fat is a very sensible way to do this.
This extra energy reserve helps us survive longer periods of fasting—like when food is scarce or when we don't have a chance to eat. Fat stores are especially important during illness: they nourish our cells and provide the immune system with energy to fight off infections when we're too sick to eat.
It is possible to survive with no body fat. Excess abdominal fat is associated with higher risks of disease development than the same amount of fat more evenly distributed.
Your body can meet the majority of your calorie requirements from stored fat, but total starvation is fatal in 8-12 weeks, regardless of initial body weight. Within one or two days of your last meal, your body will have exhausted all the glycogen stored in the liver and muscles.
A small amount of fat is an essential part of a healthy, balanced diet. Fat is a source of essential fatty acids, which the body cannot make itself. Fat helps the body absorb vitamin A, vitamin D and vitamin E. These vitamins are fat-soluble, which means they can only be absorbed with the help of fats.
Those who started adulthood as obese and continued to add weight had the highest mortality rate. People who start adulthood with a body mass index (BMI) in the normal range and move later in life to being overweight -- but never obese -- tend to live the longest, a new study suggests.
It is generally accepted that an overall range of 10-22 percent for men and 20-32 percent for women is considered satisfactory for good health.
BENEFITS TO LOSING BODY FAT
Reducing your body fat doesn't just make your body feel good. It boosts your mood and mental health along with lowering many health risks. Studies have shown that a few months after a significant weight loss, people usually can notice less tension, depression, anger and fatigue.
The strength of the genetic influence on weight disorders varies quite a bit from person to person. Research suggests that for some people, genes account for just 25% of the predisposition to be overweight, while for others the genetic influence is as high as 70% to 80%.
Your Slow Metabolism:
When you have a slow metabolism, your body doesn't convert food into energy in sufficient quantities. So most of the food you eat is stored in the form of fats. This is the main reason why some people get fat even though they don't eat much.
The human fat was used to make ointments for treatment of various diseases such as bone pain, toothache and gout. It was also regarded as a panacea for particular diseases associated with cachexia (e.g. tuberculosis).
"It is impossible to have zero percent body fat," says Dr. Sutterer. Guys should have roughly two to five percent of essential fat, he says. It's just not humanly possible to have only 0.33 percent body fat.
Health Risks and Dangers of Low Body Fat in Adult Men and Women. Men who have less than 6 percent body fat and women with less than 16 percent body fat are considered too low.
In reality, 10% body fat means you're already at the point where you have a clearly defined six pack, a properly carved, athletic look, striations in your muscles appearing in some places, and vascularity in the common places as well. Being 10% body fat is VERY, VERY lean.
Ketosis is a metabolic state that occurs when your body burns fat for energy instead of glucose.
Munzer's autopsy revealed he had almost 0 percent body fat, the legend goes. Such a small amount of body fat could have hastened his demise, experts say.
Men need about 3-5% body fat to survive, while women need 12-15% for child bearing. Women with lower body fat percentages are usually either very unhealthy or professional athletes. It is better to look at actual weight derived from fat than body fat percentage itself.
After the yearlong study, findings showed that heavier men with obvious bellies were able to last for an average of 7.3 minutes in bed, while thinner men barely lasted for two minutes, being more likely to suffer from premature ejaculation.
Researchers also discovered that “shorter, smaller bodies have lower death rates and fewer diet-related chronic diseases, especially past middle age.” The lifespans of shorter people appear to be longer than their taller counterparts, the paper says.
The Bottom Line. Both obesity and being out of shape increases your chances for a number of diseases and early death. However, the person who is lean but doesn't exercise regularly may not be in such good health after all. Being active and fit is good for you regardless of your body size.
But if your calorie intake dips too low, says Lummus, your body could go into starvation mode. "Your body will start to store fat because it thinks it is not going to get anything," says Lummus. "You will be at a point where your body is kind of at a standstill."