Body Fat: What is it?

To supply the calories our bodies need for energy, we must eat food. As food passes through our digestive system, it is mechanically and chemically broken down into nutrients (amino acids, simple sugars, fatty acids and monoglycerides) which our bodies use for growth, maintenance and repair. When these simplified nutrients - especially the simple sugars and fats - reach the cells, they are metabolised as fuel. This releases heat, which is measured in calories. With calories, the body works on a supply-and-demand system. If the daily calorie supply from food you've eaten meets the daily demand, all the calories from fats, proteins and carbohydrates are converted to energy. If the daily supply exceeds the demand, the excess calories are stored in fat cells. These fat cells serve as energy warehouses for fat molecules, allowing your body to draw upon the stored fat when your demand for calories exceeds the daily supply from the food you consume. When this stored fat is not converted into energy it results in excess body fat.