Weight loss is always on our minds, especially as we emerge from winter and approach another dreaded swimsuit season. According to a recent national poll from Readers Digest and Yahoo! Health, 40 per cent of U.S. adults are trying to lose weight and 62 per cent have attempted to shed pounds within the past five years.
When youre trying to slim down, its easy to fall into a criticizing rut and blame your body instead of celebrating and enjoying it, flaws and all. Somewhere along the way, the body becomes something to use, mould, shape and fret about; you dont see its underlying perfection, but instead look for whats wrong with it.
So let me shed some light on why we have fat in the first place, why and where we store it, and how we may have gotten too much of it. Its easier to stop hating something once you get to know it a little better.
Our bodies contain two different types of fat: essential fat and non-essential or storage fat. Essential fat is tucked away in our bone marrow, organs, nervous system and muscles. If levels of essential fat get too low, our bodies wont function properly. Thats why its essential.
Nonessential fat, despite its name, is also important: It protects internal organs and converts excess calories to stored energy, creating a safety net for times of deprivation and shortage. But when this fat gets stored in and around our organs as visceral fat, thats where we run into trouble. Deposit too much fat viscerally and you can increase your risk for heart disease, dementia, and even certain kinds of cancers.
My aim is not to scare you, but to let you know that while fat plays many positive roles in our bodies, it can be dangerous. Fat is there for a reason, and you can safely and healthfully get rid of any excess amounts that endanger your health. Here are a few key points I hope will help you put this overly demonized part of the body in perspective.
Fat Fact No. 1: Our bodies need fat to live.
Without fat, our bodies wouldnt function properly. We cant reproduce if body fat falls too low, so basically none of us would be alive today without it. Though our bodies create some fat, certain fats can only be obtained from foods. And having the right balance of these essential fatty acids, is important to heart health, brain development, regulating mood, blood clotting, and controlling inflammation.
Fat Fact No. 2: Fat can make us more attractive.
In our thin-obsessed culture, you might be shocked by this suggestion. But its true, and its important to stop demonizing obesity and excess weight. Fat keeps skin and hair healthy, which enhances appearance, and if you lose too much of it on your face, you can look gaunt.
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Four fascinating facts about fat
