It is an ill-suited trend to use “fat” to describe any weight gain. Weight fluctuation requires much more information than a simple + or -. There are different types of body fat, and each has a different effect on your body. Check out this easy guide to varying kinds of body fat and learn how to live an overall healthier life.
Different Types of Body Fat
Some types of body fat are harmful to you and can increase your risk for heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and even cancer. Others, on the other hand, promote healthy hormone levels and metabolism.
The different types of body fat are:
● White Body Fat: This is the type most people think of, and it’s the type that affects hormone production and can put you in danger of disease.
● Brown Body Fat: This type of fat is more present in babies and small amounts for adults. Research on brown body fat is actively studied.
● Beige or Brite Body Fat: This is fat somewhere between white and brown, and researchers are looking into where it comes from and what it does.
● Essential Body Fat: This is the good fat that you need. It’s vital for your body’s healthy function.
● Subcutaneous Fat: This fat is a combination of the others stored under your skin. It’s the majority of fat in your body.
● Visceral Fat: Visceral fat is also called belly fat. It’s stored in your abdomen and around organs like the kidneys, liver, intestines, pancreas, and heart. It can become harmful at high levels.
How Different Types of Body Fat affect Your Body
Your body functions best when you have an appropriate percentage of overall body fat. In general, you want to cut down on white and visceral fats, which can increase your risk for Type 2 diabetes, stroke, heart disease, coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis, and cancer. Too much white fat can lead to imbalances in estrogen, leptin, insulin, cortisol, and growth hormones, among others. It can also cause pregnancy complications.
Still, even white fat is necessary for good health. The goal is to maintain the correct percentage of fat to muscle.
How to Mold and Change Your Body Fat
First, let’s cover measuring body fat. More and more researchers are turning away from Body Mass Index (BMI)as the primary standard for measuring body fat. It is considered outdated and inaccurate. Healthcare professionals use devices like calipers, a Bod Pod, bioelectrical impedance, and other advanced tools to estimate your percentage of body fat.
It’s a common misconception that a high-fat diet will lead to harmful body fat. There is some truth to this, but it’s not as straightforward as people think. The best way to adjust your diet is to control the consumption of fatty processed foods high in carbohydrates and low in fiber. Kick up your fiber and protein intake sourced from whole foods. If you eat carbs, go for complex carbohydrates and moderate your portion sizes. Of course, you can’t do it all with just diet.
Why Diet and Exercise Matter
Exercise is essential to controlling your body fat. Weight control is a simple matter of calories in vs. calories out. The best way to burn calories and kick up your metabolism is by combining a healthy diet with physical activity. Strength training and cardio are both essential in the right balance. You don’t have to manage all of this on your own. There are professionals to help support you through your weight loss journey. Contact Advanced Medical Weight Loss to learn more if you’re not sure where to start.