BODY FAT

Fat is a necessary part of your body. The layer of fatty tissue that lies beneath your skin insulates you against physical trauma, it protects, cushions, and supports your internal organs, and it is a source of fuel. An excessive accumulation of body fat, however can lead to serious disease, and it contributes to the sags and bulges around your middle. And you can have an excessive accumulation of body fat even if you are not overweight. Being overweight means you weigh more than a standard height-weight chart indicates that you should for your height. Such a chart might indicate, for exampls that a woman who is five feet tall should weigh about 110 pounds. But the chart is based on average heights and weight no distinction is made as to the proportions of bone, muscle, organ, and fat tissue, all of which vary from person to person. Obesity on the other hand, means that too high a proportion of your body weight is comprised of fat. An overweight man or woman actually may be well within the normal range of fatness or may even be comparatively lean. A professional football player is a good example. A halfback may be six feet tall and weigh 215 pounds. According to the height-weight chart 215 pounds is too heavy. Ask me how can this be?