The measurement of body fat is an indicator that can be associated with the health status of an individual.
Before entering fully into the meaning of the term body fat , we are going to proceed to know the etymological origin of the two words that give it shape:
-Fat, first of all, comes from Latin. Specifically, it derives from the word grassa , which can be translated as "fat" or "fatness."
-Corporal, secondly, also emanates from Latin. In his case, it comes from corporalis , which can be translated as "relating to the body." A word that is the result of the sum of two very different parts: corpus , which is synonymous with "body", and the suffix -al , which is used to indicate "relative to".
Fat is an organic substance whose components are fatty acids combined with glycerin. This substance is part of various tissues of animals and plants.
What is body fat
The idea of body fat usually refers to the fat that a person has on their body. There are different types of fats: there is body fat that is essential for the body and another that is not necessary.
Essential body fat is that which cushions the organs , protects the joints, regulates body temperature and provides an energy reserve. That is why all people need to have a certain amount of fat.
Excess fat , on the other hand, is harmful. If an individual eats too many calories , those left over are stored as fat in the body, which can cause obesity . Excess body fat is also linked to an increase in total cholesterol and blood pressure, favoring the development of heart problems and diabetes.
Excess body fat is harmful to the body.
An indicator that should be considered
The body fat index helps to know if a human being has an excessive level of fat. When this indicator exceeds a certain percentage (generally 25% in men and 32% in women), it reveals overweight .
It is important to know that there are different methods to calculate what a person's body fat is. Specifically, among the most significant are the skin caliper or lipocaliber, which consists of measuring what are three skin folds; hydrostatic densiometry, bioelectrical impedance or air displacement plethysmography.
How to reduce excess body fat
In short, having an inadequate level of body fat, whether due to excess or deficiency, poses a health risk. It is important to consult with nutritionists and doctors to adapt the diet to the specific needs of each organism. Beyond diet, physical activity is also very important to control the level of body fat.
Specifically, to reduce body fat it is necessary to take measures such as the following:
-Drink between 1.5 and 2 liters of water a day.
-Rest well.
-In the healthy, complete and balanced diet that is essential to carry out, foods rich in fiber and also in micronutrients must have a strong presence.
-In the same way, it must be established that exercise must be performed and that must include different cardiovascular exercises as well as resistance training, among others.