Body fat

Definition:

Body fat, also known as adipose tissue, is a type of tissue in your body that stores energy. It’s essential for many bodily functions, but having too much of it can lead to health problems.

There are two main types of body fat:

  • Essential body fat. This is the fat that your body needs to function properly. It cushions your organs, insulates you, and helps produce hormones. Men typically need less essential body fat than women. [1]
  • Storage body fat. This is the extra fat your body stores for energy. It’s found under your skin (subcutaneous fat) and around your organs (visceral fat).

Having too much storage body fat, especially visceral fat, can increase your risk of health problems like heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers.[2]

Treated trusted sources:
  1. Villines, Z. (2020). Body fat percentage chart: Women, men, and calculations. [online] www.medicalnewstoday.com.
  2. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (2016). Health Risks. [online] Obesity Prevention Source.

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