Body Composition
What is body fat and why is it important?
Body fat is stored energy. If you consume more energy than you use it is stored as fat. Fat is stored around the body, mostly just beneath the skin.
Body fat for health
There is a healthy range for body fat. If you have too much then it raises your risk of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, gallstones and some cancers. Too much body fat is also a "dead weight". It interferes with thermo-regulation (eg. keeping cool in summer), slows you down and tires you out. Body fat can also interfere with mobility and increase your risk of injury.
How is it measured?
Your assessment has two measures of fat. First your girth around the waist is compared with your girth around the hips. This is a measure of your risk of heart disease. As your waist approaches or is wider than your hips then your risk of heart disease is increased
The secret to controlling body fat
To control body fat you must balance the energy you put in with the energy you use. As people get older, many are less active and use less energy but they still eat the same amount as when they were younger. This means there is more energy going in than is being used. The result is excess body fat
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