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Body fat is the most
important indicator of an individual’s health profile and professionals
need to identify the possible health
risks associated with having too much or too little fat.
 The human body consists of two types of fat deposits, the essential and
stored fats. The essential fat is the fat
required for your normal
physiological function. The stored fat consists of fat that builds up in
adipose tissue.
Included in this nutritional reserve are the fatty tissues
that protect the internal organs as well as the larger
subcutaneous fat
volume beneath the skin surface. Women tend to carry more fat than men; it
makes up
approximately 25% of a woman’s weight and 15% of a man’s.
We all require some fat as a source of energy reserve. Obese people tend
to have an excess amount of fat.
This may look obvious and some people
believe they can easily recognize when one is overweight, this is far
from
the truth. Fat is not distributed evenly and different people put on extra
fat in different places.
Fat has a very high concentration source of energy. It is easy to consume
too much of it. What is not burnt up
as energy is laid down as body fat,
leading eventually to obesity. Fats (lipids) that accumulate on inner
walls
of blood vessels are particularly concerning as they have
implications in health related illness.
Healthy body weight is based on present Fat Free Mass and % Body Fat
goals. It is important to remember that current
amount of fat is required
for a healthy lifestyle. It is therefore better to achieve a % Body Fat
between minimum and maximum
values to avoid disease risk.
The very minimal % Body Fat for adults is estimated to be 5% for men and
8% for women normally associated with elite athletes.
With ageing the % of
Body Fat increases and lean mass decreases this is associated with
declining of physical activity levels.
It is not necessary to accept an
increase in Body Fat as we grow older. We should attempt to maintain
healthy levels of
Body Fat at all times.
Climate conditions can affect body weight and fat. During the cold weather
months our weight changes although our lean body
weight (body weight less
fat weight) does not.
These changes are attributed to differences in the amount of fat being
stored in adipose tissue. Body Fat increases during the
winter months as
it insulates us against the cold. Summer months sees a slight decline in
our weight and fat due to the energy
expenditure and a decrease in
appetite.
Regular monitoring of body fat with Maltron Body Composition Analyser in
addition to good nutrition and exercise is essential.
By regular
monitoring and keeping within the recommended body fat levels, you will
feel, look better and most importantly live a
healthy lifestyle.
Maltron is the first British manufacturer to offer you low cost, high
precision and a highly accurate way of measuring body fat. |
