{"id":16244,"date":"2021-01-25T18:56:55","date_gmt":"2021-01-25T18:56:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/?p=16244"},"modified":"2024-12-16T08:35:01","modified_gmt":"2024-12-16T08:35:01","slug":"essential-body-fat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/","title":{"rendered":"Essential Body Fat: Drawing The Line Between What&#8217;s Necessary And What Needs To Go"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_75 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/#What_Is_Essential_Body_Fat\" >What Is Essential Body Fat?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/#What_Does_Essential_Fat_Mean_In_The_Body\" >What Does Essential Fat Mean In The Body?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/#Where_Is_Essential_Body_Fat_Located\" >Where Is Essential Body Fat Located?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/#Essential_Fat_Vs_Storage_Fat_Vs_Body_Fat\" >Essential Fat Vs. Storage Fat Vs. Body Fat<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/#What_Is_A_Non-Essential_Body_Fat\" >What Is A Non-Essential Body Fat?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/#Why_Is_Body_Fat_Essential\" >Why Is Body Fat Essential?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/#Essential_Body_Fat_Percentage_In_The_Body\" >Essential Body Fat Percentage In The Body<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/#Risks_Of_Having_A_High_Percentage_Of_Fat\" >Risks Of Having A High Percentage Of Fat<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/#How_To_Measure_Your_Body_Fat_Percentage\" >How To Measure Your Body Fat Percentage?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/#Underwater_Weighing\" >Underwater Weighing<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/#Whole-Body_Air_Displacement_Plethysmography_ADP\" >Whole-Body Air Displacement Plethysmography (ADP)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/#Near-Infrared_Interactance\" >Near-Infrared Interactance<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/#X-Ray_Absorptiometry\" >X-Ray Absorptiometry<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/#Expansions\" >Expansions<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/#Average_Density_Measurements\" >Average Density Measurements<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/#Bioelectrical_Impedance_Analysis_BIA\" >Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/#Skinfold\" >Skinfold<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/#Height_Circumference\" >Height Circumference<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/#The_BMI\" >The BMI<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/#Fats_And_Diet\" >Fats And Diet<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/#How_To_Maintain_Healthy_Levels_Of_Fat\" >How To Maintain Healthy Levels Of Fat?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/#Check_On_Your_Diet\" >Check On Your Diet<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/#Exercise\" >Exercise<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-24\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/#Combine_Diet_And_Exercise\" >Combine Diet And Exercise<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-25\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/#Surgical_Methods\" >Surgical Methods<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-26\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/#Consider_Fasting\" >Consider Fasting<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-27\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/#The_Bottom_Line\" >The Bottom Line<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-28\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/#DISCLAIMER\" >DISCLAIMER:\u00a0<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-29\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/#SOURCES\" >SOURCES:<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are several fat types in human beings. Some can harm your health, while others are beneficial to your system. One type of fat found in your body is the essential body fat, which we will be focusing on in this article. Is it harmful or beneficial to your health? Let&#8217;s try to find out!<\/span><\/p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2361&utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Essential_Body_Fat\" target=\"_blank\"><video autoplay=\"autoplay\" loop=\"loop\" muted=\"muted\" playsinline=\"playsinline\" width=\"777\"><source src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/ezgif.com-gif-to-mp4-2.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\" \/><\/video><\/a>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Health experts agree that too much fat can be dangerous to your body. It can cause conditions such as dyslipidemia, hypertension, type II diabetes, and other diseases related to obesity. But is that the case with essential fats? Aren\u2019t they necessary to our bodies, just like their name suggests? Here is everything you need to know about essential body fat for men and women.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_Essential_Body_Fat\"><\/span><b>What Is Essential Body Fat?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As the most aptly named type of fat, essential fat is required for good health. It plays a crucial part in regulating your body temperature, production of sexual hormones, <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/vitamins-to-boost-metabolism\/\">vitamin<\/a> absorption, among other benefits. Essential fat is the minimal amount of body fat required for normal physiological functions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These are not visible as they are located deep inside the body (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.medicinenet.com\/pdfguides\/booklet\/medicinenet-weight-loss-healthy-living-10-3.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">16<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Does_Essential_Fat_Mean_In_The_Body\"><\/span><b>What Does Essential Fat Mean In The Body?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you have essential fats in your body, then this means that you will be able to conduct all the physiological functions such as absorbing oxygen and so forth.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hence, they are a &#8220;good&#8221; type of fat, which means that you do not need to target them during weight loss.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Where_Is_Essential_Body_Fat_Located\"><\/span><b><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2361&#038;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Essential_Body_Fat\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-31248 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/5-12-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"essential body fat\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/5-12.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/5-12-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/5-12.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/5-12-1636x920.jpg 1636w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/5-12.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a>Where Is Essential Body Fat Located?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Essential fat is critical for your life, without it, you would probably be weak or dead. Hence, it is not surprising that they are located in the most important parts of your body. They include the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Brain<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nerves<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bone marrow<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Membranes that protect your organs<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em><strong>Read More: <\/strong><\/em><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/40-body-fat\/\">40% Body Fat: Are You a Jump Away From Obesity and What Should You Do?<\/a><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Essential_Fat_Vs_Storage_Fat_Vs_Body_Fat\"><\/span><b>Essential Fat Vs. Storage Fat Vs. Body Fat<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Essential fats are needed for normal physiological processes in your body, just as mentioned above.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the other hand, storage fat is found in your adipose tissue, beneath your skin, and around some of your organs. It has the following main functions:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Insulating the body to retain heat<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Provides energy during <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/six-meals-a-day\/\">metabolism<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Guards your body against physical trauma<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Essential and storage fats are types of body fat. They are all found in your body (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/medlineplus.gov\/ency\/patientinstructions\/000104.htm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_A_Non-Essential_Body_Fat\"><\/span><b>What Is A Non-Essential Body Fat?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is the fat that is not needed to perform vital functions of the body. This non-essential fat is stored under your skin and around organs if it is in excess. The main types of non-essential fats include the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>White: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This type of fat is located under your skin and around the organs in your body, buttocks, arms, thighs, and arms. The fat cells act as energy stored by the body for later use.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Brown fat: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is mostly found in babies. Some adults still retain it in small amounts in the shoulder and neck region.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Beige (brite): <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Beige fat cells are found between brown and white fat cells. When you are stressed or cold, the body releases hormones and enzymes to convert white fat into beige.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Subcutaneous: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is stored under your skin. It is a combination of brown, white, and beige fat cells. It is dominant in our bodies. You can squeeze or pinch this fat on your belly, thighs, and buttocks.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Visceral:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> It is also known as belly fat. It is a white fat stored in your abdomen and around major organs such as the liver, pancreas, heart, intestines, and kidneys (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.webmd.com\/food-recipes\/features\/good-fats-bad-fats#1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">9<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Is_Body_Fat_Essential\"><\/span><b><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2361&#038;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Essential_Body_Fat\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-31312 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/2-10-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"fitness app\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/2-10.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/2-10-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/2-10.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/2-10-1636x920.jpg 1636w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/2-10.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a>Why Is Body Fat Essential?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Having a healthy fat percentage provides the following general benefits:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Temperature regulation<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Balanced sugar levels in your blood<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Healthy metabolic rates<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Good neurological functions<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adequate vitamin absorption and storage<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Better reproductive system and health<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Balanced hormone levels<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Each fat type has the following functions:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>White: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Regulates hormones such as insulin, estrogen, leptin, growth hormone, and cortisol. They also store energy for later use.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Brown: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Burns fatty acids to keep you warm (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3726172\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Beige: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Help burn fats rather than store them.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Essential fats: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Plays a major role in hormone regulation, temperature regulation, and vitamin absorption.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Subcutaneous: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prevents the skin from becoming dry.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Visceral: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Protects your important body organs from shock.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<style type=\"text\/css\"><!--td {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}--><\/style>\n<p><strong>If you wish to free yourself from all the extra pounds that have been weighting you down for way too long, <a class=\"in-cell-link\" href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2361&#038;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Essential_Body_Fat\" rel=\"noopener\">start using the BetterMe app<\/a> and overhaul your entire life!<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Essential_Body_Fat_Percentage_In_The_Body\"><\/span><b><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2361&#038;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Essential_Body_Fat\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-31294 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/3-1-3-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"essential body fat\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/3-1-3.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/3-1-3-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/3-1-3.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/3-1-3-1636x920.jpg 1636w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/3-1-3.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a>Essential Body Fat Percentage In The Body<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The percentage of essential fats varies from one person to the other, depending on sex and age. Various theoretical values exist based on health, athlete, capacity, and so forth.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Females need 32% at the age of 8 to 11 years, and 42.4% at 60 to 70 years (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/mmwr\/preview\/mmwrhtml\/mm5751a4.htm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">15<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Their male counterparts only need 22.9% at 16 to 9 years and 30.9% at 60 to 79 years.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hence, the <\/span>essential body fat for women <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is higher than that of men.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here is how the average percentages differ for women in specific groups and categories:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Essential fats: 10% to 13%<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Athletes: 14% to 20%: 21% to 24%<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Average: 25% to 31%<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Obese: 32% and above<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For men, the percentages differ as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Essential body fats: 2% to 5%<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Athletes: 6% to 13%<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fitness: 14% to 20%<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Average: 21% to 24%<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Obese: 25% and above (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.webmd.com\/diet\/features\/body-fat-measurement#1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Risks_Of_Having_A_High_Percentage_Of_Fat\"><\/span><b><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2361&#038;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Essential_Body_Fat\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-31439 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Frame-3912-1024x576.png\" alt=\"essential body fat\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Frame-3912.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Frame-3912-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Frame-3912.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Frame-3912.png 1344w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a>Risks Of Having A High Percentage Of Fat<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Having too much fat can be harmful to your body&#8217;s health. The following are the risks of having high contents of different types of fat:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Visceral fat: <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Has been linked with the following conditions:<\/span><\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heart disease<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some types of cancer<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hormone disturbances<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Type 2 diabetes<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pregnancy complications<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Atherosclerosis<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Coronary artery disease<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stroke<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Subcutaneous: <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A certain level of this fat is normal, but too much can lead to the following:<\/span><\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Imbalanced hormone levels<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sensitivity<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>White fat: <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This type is necessary for good health; however, if it is in higher content, it could be harmful in the following ways:<\/span><\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Type 2 diabetes<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cancer<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Liver disease<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kidney disease<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pregnancy complications<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hormonal imbalances<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stroke<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">High blood pressure<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Coronary artery disease<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Type 2 diabetes<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Brown, beige, and essential fats are useful to your body. They do not increase your risk of contracting any chronic disease (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/healthyweight\/effects\/index.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">13<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_To_Measure_Your_Body_Fat_Percentage\"><\/span><b><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2361&#038;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Essential_Body_Fat\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-31450 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Frame-4267-1024x576.png\" alt=\"abs squat\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Frame-4267.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Frame-4267-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Frame-4267.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Frame-4267.png 1344w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a>How To Measure Your Body Fat Percentage?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now that you know the importance of fats, risks, and normal percentages, how would you know the amount of fat in your body? Well, it turns out that body composition can be measured via several methods. They include the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Underwater_Weighing\"><\/span><b>Underwater Weighing<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Irrespective of their location, fat cells are composed of triglycerides with a density of 0.9 Kilograms per liter.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your body tissues are made up of 72% water, 21% protein, and 7% minerals. The density of each component is known. The theoretical density of body water is 0.993, proteins 1.340, and minerals 3.000.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hence, if you are immersed in water, and the volume of water displaced is measured correctly, your body fat percentage would be determined easily (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2007\/02\/15\/fashion\/15Physical.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">11<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Whole-Body_Air_Displacement_Plethysmography_ADP\"><\/span><b>Whole-Body Air Displacement Plethysmography (ADP)<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ADP uses the same principles as underwater weighing. The only difference here is that air will be displaced in place of water.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The method is well suited for the elderly, disabled, children, obese, and other subjects that cannot be immersed in the water. It is, however, not as accurate as underwater weighing. Accuracy will reduce as the amount of fat in the body rises (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4301864\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Near-Infrared_Interactance\"><\/span><b>Near-Infrared Interactance<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Infra-red beams will be transmitted into your biceps. The light will be reflected and also absorbed by your body fat.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The amount absorbed can be calculated by subtracting the incident ray from the reflected ray. This is a more non-invasive, more rapid, easier, and safer method to use (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/6507337\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"X-Ray_Absorptiometry\"><\/span><b>X-Ray Absorptiometry<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is the newest method of measuring the number of your body fats. X-rays of two different energies are used to scan your body. One of the two is absorbed strongly by fats while the other is not.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Special computer software is used to subtract one image from the other to get the difference. This amount will indicate your fat composition.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Read More:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/body-fat-percentage-calculator\/\">Body Fat Percentage Calculator: Can You Diagnose Obesity With It?<\/a><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Expansions\"><\/span><b>Expansions<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In-vivo neutron activation methods are used here. These techniques can quantify your body&#8217;s elements using the mathematical relationship of different components of the body, such as fats (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/6465059\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">10<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Average_Density_Measurements\"><\/span><b>Average Density Measurements<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A long time ago, this was one of the most accurate methods of measuring body fats. The technique works by measuring your density (your total mass divided by volume).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After finding your density, a formula is applied to calculate your body fat percentage. However, this technique is distorted because people have different densities of muscles and bones (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/14062375\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Bioelectrical_Impedance_Analysis_BIA\"><\/span><b><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2361&#038;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Essential_Body_Fat\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-31498 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Frame-4320-1024x576.png\" alt=\"essential body fat\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Frame-4320.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Frame-4320-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Frame-4320.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Frame-4320-1636x920.png 1636w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Frame-4320.png 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a>Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA)<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">BIA used two or more conductors that are attached to your body. A small amount of electricity is induced in your organs. Fat is a poor conductor of electricity. Hence, the resistance between any two electrodes gives you the amount of fat between the pair.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Skinfold\"><\/span><b>Skinfold<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is a method based on a pinch test. Generally, a pinch of your skin is measured by calipers or a plicometer.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Several parts of your body are also measured to determine your subcutaneous fat thickness.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An equation is used to convert the measurements into percentages. Some formulas might require up to three measurements, while others as many as six or seven.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Height_Circumference\"><\/span><b>Height Circumference<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your height and girth can also estimate your fat content. The US Army and Marine Corps largely use this method.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Measurements of your neck and waist are taken if you are a male. Females have their hips, waist, and neck checked.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The measurements are looked at in already published tables to determine your body fat content (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2020\/04\/17\/parenting\/growth-chart-accuracy.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">14<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_BMI\"><\/span><b>The BMI<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Body fat can also be estimated using the Body Mass Index (BMI) quantity. To obtain your BMI, divide your mass in kilograms with height in meters and multiply the result by 703.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can estimate your fat composition via the following equations:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For children = (1.51 X BMI) &#8211; (0.70 x age) &#8211; (3.6 X sex) +1.4<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For Adults = (1.20 X BMI) + (0.23 x age) &#8211; (10.8 x sex) &#8211; 5.4 (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/326331\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">17<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Fats_And_Diet\"><\/span><b><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2361&#038;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Essential_Body_Fat\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-31567 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Frame-4298-1024x576.png\" alt=\"essential body fat\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Frame-4298.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Frame-4298-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Frame-4298.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Frame-4298.png 1344w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a>Fats And Diet<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most people assume that the essential body fat primary source and other fats are a high-fat <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/salt-free-snacks\/\">diet<\/a>. Well, this is partially true. However, you cannot cut down on fat consumption as they are needed for good health.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What you need to cut down is refined foods with high carbs and low fiber, making you have excess fats. Highly refined sugars and these processed foods have been linked with increased visceral fat, which is more dangerous than subcutaneous fat.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Also, high-calorie foods have the same effect as refined meals. If you consume them in a high quantity, then you will have more than enough calories in your body. Your body will store the extra fat under the skin and around your body organs<\/span><b>.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_To_Maintain_Healthy_Levels_Of_Fat\"><\/span><b>How To Maintain Healthy Levels Of Fat?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You should not let fats make up a large percentage of your body. You need to shed them off to acceptable levels to reduce the risks of contracting chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and so forth. Follow the tips below:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Check_On_Your_Diet\"><\/span><b>Check On Your Diet<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is one of the popular ways to reduce all the non-essential fats in your body. Reduce the number of carbs and calories you take every day. This is in an attempt to make your body have a calorie deficit. It will burn the stored fats to cater for the insufficiency.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Consume a lot of proteins to avoid losing your muscle mass as you burn excess fats. Also, make sure you do not skip any meal unless you are fasting. Not taking your breakfast or lunch might lure you to eating unhealthy calorie-rich snacks such as chocolate, French fries, and so forth (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedaily.com\/releases\/2016\/01\/160127132741.htm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">12<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\"><!--td {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}--><\/style>\n<p><strong>Yanking yourself back in shape has never been so easy with our game-changing fitness app! <a class=\"in-cell-link\" href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2361&#038;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Essential_Body_Fat\" rel=\"noopener\">Start transforming your life with BetterMe<\/a>!<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Exercise\"><\/span><b><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2361&#038;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Essential_Body_Fat\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-35964 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Frame-5137-1024x576.png\" alt=\"essential body fat\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Frame-5137.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Frame-5137-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Frame-5137.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Frame-5137-1636x920.png 1636w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Frame-5137.png 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a>Exercise<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Physical activities can help you shed some fats off. If you are new to exercise, do not rush things. Start slowly to avoid burnouts and injuries.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Later, you can incorporate strength training into your sessions, which increases your <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-to-reset-your-metabolism\/\">metabolism<\/a>, muscle mass, and prevents weight gain.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Combine_Diet_And_Exercise\"><\/span><b>Combine Diet And Exercise<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A healthy diet will only be effective if combined with physical activities. The training will help you burn a lot more calories than you would have with diet alone. This combination is one of the most effective methods of losing fat and keeping those kilograms from coming back.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are visiting the gym quite often, you need to make sure your diet can support your <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/what-muscle-groups-to-work-out-together\/\">training<\/a>. You should not go to training without eating enough food (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedaily.com\/releases\/2011\/04\/110414141449.htm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">7<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Surgical_Methods\"><\/span><b>Surgical Methods<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you want instant results, you can go for a medical procedure to reduce your body fat. Make sure qualified physicians and surgeons perform the procedure.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This method is a bit costly. It might also leave you immobile for a few days or weeks.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Consider_Fasting\"><\/span><b>Consider Fasting<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-to-make-fasting-easier\/\">fast<\/a>, you do not take any food for a certain period. This makes the body use the stored fats to provide the energy needed for your daily activities. Hence, you are likely to lose more fat if you <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/what-happens-when-you-fast\/\">fast<\/a> often.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Remember that you shouldn&#8217;t go to the gym with an empty stomach. You should also avoid soft drinks. Stick to <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/14-day-lemon-water-challenge\/\">water<\/a> only. When you are breaking, you are fast, eat small amounts of food to avoid stomach complications (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/12\/25\/health\/intermittent-fasting-live-longer-wellness-trnd\/index.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Bottom_Line\"><\/span><b>The Bottom Line<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fat cells can be stored in three methods: essential, visceral, and subcutaneous fat. Essential body fat is vital for your health and functioning of your organs. The rest pose a health risk if found in large quantities in your body.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>If you want to do even more for your body, why don&#8217;t you supplement a healthy diet with some exercise?<\/p>\n<h3><b><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2361&utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Essential_Body_Fat\" target=\"_blank\"><video autoplay=\"autoplay\" loop=\"loop\" muted=\"muted\" playsinline=\"playsinline\" width=\"777\"><source src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/ezgif.com-gif-to-mp4-2.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\" \/><\/video><\/a>DISCLAIMER:\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional advice or help and should not be relied on to make decisions of any kind. Any action you take upon the information presented in this article is strictly at your own risk and responsibility!<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"SOURCES\"><\/span><b>SOURCES:<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4301864\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Air Displacement Plethysmography versus Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry in Underweight, Normal-Weight, and Overweight\/Obese Individuals<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (2015,<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/6507337\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A new approach for the estimation of body composition: infrared interactance<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (1984, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.webmd.com\/diet\/features\/body-fat-measurement#1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Body Fat Measurement: Percentage Vs. Body Mass<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (2003, webmd.com)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3726172\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cold Acclimation Recruits Human Brown Fat And Increases Nonshivering Thermogenesis<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (2013,<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/14062375\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Densitometric Analysis Of Body Composition: Revision Of Some Quantitative Assumptions<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (1963,<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/medlineplus.gov\/ency\/patientinstructions\/000104.htm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dietary fats explained<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (2018, medlineplus.gov)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedaily.com\/releases\/2011\/04\/110414141449.htm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Diet plus exercise is more effective for weight loss than either method alone<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (2011,<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sciencedaily.com)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/12\/25\/health\/intermittent-fasting-live-longer-wellness-trnd\/index.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eating in a 6-hour window and fasting for 18 hours might help you live longer<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (2020,<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">edition.cnn.com)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.webmd.com\/food-recipes\/features\/good-fats-bad-fats#1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fat Facts: Good Fats vs. Bad Fats<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (2008,<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">webmd.com)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/6465059\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Improved models for determination of body fat by in vivo neutron activation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (1984,<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2007\/02\/15\/fashion\/15Physical.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keeping Tabs on Your Fat<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (2007, nytimes.com)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedaily.com\/releases\/2016\/01\/160127132741.htm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Losing fat while gaining muscle: Scientists close in on &#8216;holy grail&#8217; of diet and exercise<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (2016, sciencedaily.com)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/healthyweight\/effects\/index.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Health Effects of Overweight and Obesity<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (2020, cdc.gov)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2020\/04\/17\/parenting\/growth-chart-accuracy.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Trouble With Growth Charts<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (2019, nytimes.com)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/mmwr\/preview\/mmwrhtml\/mm5751a4.htm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">QuickStats: Mean Percentage Body Fat,* by Age Group and Sex &#8212; National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, United States, 1999&#8211;2004\u2020<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (2009,<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cdc.gov)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.medicinenet.com\/pdfguides\/booklet\/medicinenet-weight-loss-healthy-living-10-3.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Weight Loss And Healthy Living Guide<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (2013, medicinenet.com)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/326331\">What ways are there to measure body fat?<\/a> (2019, medicalnewstoday.com)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There are several fat types in human beings. Some can harm your health, while others are beneficial to your system. One type of fat found in your body is the essential body fat, which we will be focusing on in this article. Is it harmful or beneficial to your health? Let&#8217;s try to find out! [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":16246,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[76],"tags":[],"coauthors":[105],"class_list":["post-16244","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-weight-management"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v20.2.1 (Yoast SEO v25.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Essential Body Fat: Drawing The Line Between What&#039;s Necessary And What Needs To Go - BetterMe<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"\u2605 ESSENTIAL BODY FAT \u27a4 can either be beneficial or harmful to your health. Find out more about this and how to maintain healthy levels of fats in the body.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Essential Body Fat: Drawing The Line Between What&#039;s Necessary And What Needs To Go\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"\u2605 ESSENTIAL BODY FAT \u27a4 can either be beneficial or harmful to your health. Find out more about this and how to maintain healthy levels of fats in the body.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"BetterMe Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/betterme.health.coaching\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/shutterstock_428318635.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"667\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"L. Lawrence\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@betterme\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@betterme\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"L. Lawrence\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"14 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"L. Lawrence\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/e05b0bef50131bc7bc36799b8883d334\"},\"headline\":\"Essential Body Fat: Drawing The Line Between What&#8217;s Necessary And What Needs To Go\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/\"},\"wordCount\":2614,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/shutterstock_428318635.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Weight Management\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"articleBody\":\"<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">There are several fat types in human beings. Some can harm your health, while others are beneficial to your system. One type of fat found in your body is the essential body fat, which we will be focusing on in this article. Is it harmful or beneficial to your health? Let's try to find out!<\/span>\\r\\n\\r\\n\\r\\n\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">Health experts agree that too much fat can be dangerous to your body. It can cause conditions such as dyslipidemia, hypertension, type II diabetes, and other diseases related to obesity. But is that the case with essential fats? Aren\u2019t they necessary to our bodies, just like their name suggests? Here is everything you need to know about essential body fat for men and women.<\/span>\\r\\n<h2 style=\\\"text-align: center;\\\"><b>What Is Essential Body Fat?<\/b><\/h2>\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">As the most aptly named type of fat, essential fat is required for good health. It plays a crucial part in regulating your body temperature, production of sexual hormones, <a href=\\\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/vitamins-to-boost-metabolism\/\\\">vitamin<\/a> absorption, among other benefits. Essential fat is the minimal amount of body fat required for normal physiological functions.<\/span>\\r\\n\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">These are not visible as they are located deep inside the body (<\/span><a href=\\\"https:\/\/www.medicinenet.com\/pdfguides\/booklet\/medicinenet-weight-loss-healthy-living-10-3.pdf\\\"><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">16<\/span><\/a><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">).<\/span>\\r\\n<h2 style=\\\"text-align: center;\\\"><b>What Does Essential Fat Mean In The Body?<\/b><\/h2>\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">If you have essential fats in your body, then this means that you will be able to conduct all the physiological functions such as absorbing oxygen and so forth.<\/span>\\r\\n\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">Hence, they are a \\\"good\\\" type of fat, which means that you do not need to target them during weight loss.<\/span>\\r\\n<h2 style=\\\"text ...\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/\",\"name\":\"Essential Body Fat: Drawing The Line Between What's Necessary And What Needs To Go - BetterMe\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/shutterstock_428318635.jpg\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00\",\"description\":\"\u2605 ESSENTIAL BODY FAT \u27a4 can either be beneficial or harmful to your health. Find out more about this and how to maintain healthy levels of fats in the body.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/shutterstock_428318635.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/shutterstock_428318635.jpg\",\"width\":1000,\"height\":667,\"caption\":\"Shutterstock\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Blog\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Weight Loss\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/weight-loss\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Weight Management\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/weight-loss\/weight-management\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":4,\"name\":\"Essential Body Fat: Drawing The Line Between What&#8217;s Necessary And What Needs To Go\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/\",\"name\":\"BetterMe Blog\",\"description\":\"Health &amp; Fitness\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#organization\",\"name\":\"BetterMe\",\"alternateName\":\"Betterme Limited\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/BetterMe.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/BetterMe.png\",\"width\":512,\"height\":512,\"caption\":\"BetterMe\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/betterme.health.coaching\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/betterme\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/betterme\/\",\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/betterme-apps\",\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/bettermetips\/\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UC0svgcjc3jSgcryqo83spPQ\",\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@betterme.health.coaching\",\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/app\/betterme-health-coaching\/id1264546236\",\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.gen.workoutme&amp;amp;amp;amp;hl=en_US&amp;amp;amp;amp;gl=US\",\"https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Q114895798\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/e05b0bef50131bc7bc36799b8883d334\",\"name\":\"L. Lawrence\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/cb4c8e8daa5c56655bff6abbefeb3452\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Lilly-150x150.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Lilly-150x150.png\",\"caption\":\"L. Lawrence\"},\"description\":\"Lilly is a professional writer specializing in health and science writing. She\u2019s highly inspired by questions of science, which particularly concern nutrition, fitness and medicine. She is a firm advocate for a healthy lifestyle, which is why she creates informative articles based on scientific research and strives to deliver clear and yet detailed information on how to take care of your body and mind. Lilly never fails to flesh out her articles with no-frills nutritional advice, up-to-date fitness tips, and latest medical research data which helps readers get a better grasp on the issue they are concerned about.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/author\/lillylawrence\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Essential Body Fat: Drawing The Line Between What's Necessary And What Needs To Go - BetterMe","description":"\u2605 ESSENTIAL BODY FAT \u27a4 can either be beneficial or harmful to your health. Find out more about this and how to maintain healthy levels of fats in the body.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Essential Body Fat: Drawing The Line Between What's Necessary And What Needs To Go","og_description":"\u2605 ESSENTIAL BODY FAT \u27a4 can either be beneficial or harmful to your health. Find out more about this and how to maintain healthy levels of fats in the body.","og_url":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/","og_site_name":"BetterMe Blog","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/betterme.health.coaching","article_modified_time":"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1000,"height":667,"url":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/shutterstock_428318635.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"L. Lawrence","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@betterme","twitter_site":"@betterme","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"L. Lawrence","Est. reading time":"14 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/"},"author":{"name":"L. Lawrence","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/e05b0bef50131bc7bc36799b8883d334"},"headline":"Essential Body Fat: Drawing The Line Between What&#8217;s Necessary And What Needs To Go","dateModified":"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/"},"wordCount":2614,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/shutterstock_428318635.jpg","articleSection":["Weight Management"],"inLanguage":"en-US","articleBody":"<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are several fat types in human beings. Some can harm your health, while others are beneficial to your system. One type of fat found in your body is the essential body fat, which we will be focusing on in this article. Is it harmful or beneficial to your health? Let's try to find out!<\/span>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Health experts agree that too much fat can be dangerous to your body. It can cause conditions such as dyslipidemia, hypertension, type II diabetes, and other diseases related to obesity. But is that the case with essential fats? Aren\u2019t they necessary to our bodies, just like their name suggests? Here is everything you need to know about essential body fat for men and women.<\/span>\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>What Is Essential Body Fat?<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As the most aptly named type of fat, essential fat is required for good health. It plays a crucial part in regulating your body temperature, production of sexual hormones, <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/vitamins-to-boost-metabolism\/\">vitamin<\/a> absorption, among other benefits. Essential fat is the minimal amount of body fat required for normal physiological functions.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These are not visible as they are located deep inside the body (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.medicinenet.com\/pdfguides\/booklet\/medicinenet-weight-loss-healthy-living-10-3.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">16<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span>\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>What Does Essential Fat Mean In The Body?<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you have essential fats in your body, then this means that you will be able to conduct all the physiological functions such as absorbing oxygen and so forth.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hence, they are a \"good\" type of fat, which means that you do not need to target them during weight loss.<\/span>\r\n<h2 style=\"text ..."},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/","url":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/","name":"Essential Body Fat: Drawing The Line Between What's Necessary And What Needs To Go - BetterMe","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/shutterstock_428318635.jpg","dateModified":"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00","description":"\u2605 ESSENTIAL BODY FAT \u27a4 can either be beneficial or harmful to your health. Find out more about this and how to maintain healthy levels of fats in the body.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/shutterstock_428318635.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/shutterstock_428318635.jpg","width":1000,"height":667,"caption":"Shutterstock"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/essential-body-fat\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Weight Loss","item":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/weight-loss\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Weight Management","item":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/weight-loss\/weight-management\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Essential Body Fat: Drawing The Line Between What&#8217;s Necessary And What Needs To Go"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#website","url":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/","name":"BetterMe Blog","description":"Health &amp; Fitness","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#organization","name":"BetterMe","alternateName":"Betterme Limited","url":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/BetterMe.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/BetterMe.png","width":512,"height":512,"caption":"BetterMe"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/betterme.health.coaching","https:\/\/x.com\/betterme","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/betterme\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/betterme-apps","https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/bettermetips\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UC0svgcjc3jSgcryqo83spPQ","https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@betterme.health.coaching","https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/app\/betterme-health-coaching\/id1264546236","https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.gen.workoutme&amp;amp;amp;amp;hl=en_US&amp;amp;amp;amp;gl=US","https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Q114895798"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/e05b0bef50131bc7bc36799b8883d334","name":"L. Lawrence","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/cb4c8e8daa5c56655bff6abbefeb3452","url":"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Lilly-150x150.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Lilly-150x150.png","caption":"L. Lawrence"},"description":"Lilly is a professional writer specializing in health and science writing. She\u2019s highly inspired by questions of science, which particularly concern nutrition, fitness and medicine. She is a firm advocate for a healthy lifestyle, which is why she creates informative articles based on scientific research and strives to deliver clear and yet detailed information on how to take care of your body and mind. Lilly never fails to flesh out her articles with no-frills nutritional advice, up-to-date fitness tips, and latest medical research data which helps readers get a better grasp on the issue they are concerned about.","url":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/author\/lillylawrence\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16244","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/22"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16244"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16244\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16246"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16244"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16244"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16244"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=16244"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}