Human body fat

Fat is a normal component of the human body that is stored in adipose tissue. The only body measurement that directly calculates the relative composition of the body and present a measure of fitness level, regardless of height and weight, is body fat percentage (% BF). Widespread application of Body Mass Index (BMI) affords a measure which enables comparison with the overweight of individuals of different heights and weights.

Fat and fat-free mass have very different energy densities:
• Fat: 39.4 MJ/kg
• Fat-free mass: 3.7 MJ/kg

All fat is not bad. Fat is very important for cells, it keeps the body warm, and it also cushions the body and provides comfort, such as when the body sitting. However, too much fat can be a risk factor for obesity. An ideal body composition is one with healthy amounts of fat mass and lean mass, or muscle. The average body fat of a healthy person is about 10 percent to 15 percent for men and 15 percent to 25 percent for women.

Why body fat is so important?
*Fat is an insulator; it helps the body to adapt to heat and cold.
*Fat acts as a shock absorber; it can help protect the body organs and bones from injury.
*Fat helps body use vitamins effectively.
*Fat is stored energy that is available when human body needs it.
*Fat, in reasonable amounts, helps to look the best, thus increasing the feelings of well-being.

Accurate determination of body fat could provide clinically useful guidance for physicians to assess disease risks in patients with obesity and optimize preventive or therapeutic remedies for these patients.
Human body fat