ALL ABOUT FAT
Fat is a complex, active organ. Here’s how genetics, evolution, lifestyle and diet dictate how much we have beneath our skin
WORDS AILSA HARVEY
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DID YOU KNOW? Around 30 per cent of your diet should consist of fat
The word ‘fat’ has become a stigmatised slur, its importance being considered largely aesthetic over its biological purpose. In reality, there’s more to fat than meets the eye, and there is much more to understand when considering fat health than just our lifestyle choices. Fat serves our bodies by providing energy to survive when food isn’t accessible. Most people today rarely encounter a situation where food is hard to come by. Yet for our early human ancestors, fat tissue beneath the skin was a buffer between survival and starvation. Fat is broken down in the body into fatty acids, releasing energy for all the cells in your body to use. When your energy levels deplete, the body relies on fat as a backup. The organ is also an effective insulator, which helps regulate your body temperature.