Apart from skeletal and muscular structure, fat distribution plays an important role in determining body shape. From studies, it has been estimated that the amount of fat in a woman's body should be less than 23%, while that in men should be less than 18%. It is considered unhealthy when the figures reach up to 40% and 35% respectively. Fat distribution in the body depends on several factors, namely, hormone levels, genetic factors, age, food habits and exercise.
The basics of body fat
Our body contains two types of fat: essential and storage. The essential fat consists of the fat storage around kidneys, liver and other visceral organs. These fat stores are very important in cushioning the important parts of the body from impacts. The storage fats are found in adipose tissues present all over the body, but the majority is stored under the skin as subcutaneous. A person can have any number of fat cells in the body between 50 and 200 billion. Generally, this type of fat is accumulated when the body receives more calories from diet than it burns through physical work.
Dissimilar distribution in men and women
Female sex hormone, estrogen, stimulates storage of fat in buttocks, thighs and hips in women. In menopausal women, decline of estrogen levels initiate migration of fats to their waists and bellies. Among men, higher levels of male sex hormone, testosterone, curb fat deposition by increasing its metabolism; fat is stored mostly around waist and abdomen in men. Due to the predominance of sex hormones in fat distribution, differential development of men and women kicks in at puberty, when these hormones start producing in the body. For the same reason, women assume 'pear' shape, while men tend to have 'apple' shaped bodies.
Fat deposition in definite parts of the body
This is a problem faced by many individuals who, despite regular workouts, find it difficult to budge stubborn fat from specific parts of their bodies. Genetic code dictates such deposition; women tend to have more fat in pelvic areas whereas men are more susceptible to deposition of fat around their midriffs. If these specific parts of the body are exercised, the fatty tissues may get firmer, giving a more toned look. But, to actually mobilize the fat depots, activities that burn calories and break down the contents of fat cells, must be undertaken without increasing food intake. Dietary restriction and regular exercise serves this purpose in the long run. However, a more prompt alternative is liposuction, which surgically removes local fats.
A common misconception is that sweating in sauna or steam rooms reduce weight. By profuse sweating one only loses water content, not fat; this 'loss of weight' is immediately regained on drinking fluids.
Measurement: Body Volume Index
Body Volume Index or BVI, an alternative proposed to Body Mass Index (BMI), is a method that not only measures human obesity but also mass distribution and waist-hip ratio, thereby giving an account of the varying allocation of fat among individuals with the same BMI value. While BMI can be calculated manually by collecting height and weight data, BVI uses 3D Full Body Scanner to determine where the fat is concentrated more conclusively.
The basics of body fat
Our body contains two types of fat: essential and storage. The essential fat consists of the fat storage around kidneys, liver and other visceral organs. These fat stores are very important in cushioning the important parts of the body from impacts. The storage fats are found in adipose tissues present all over the body, but the majority is stored under the skin as subcutaneous. A person can have any number of fat cells in the body between 50 and 200 billion. Generally, this type of fat is accumulated when the body receives more calories from diet than it burns through physical work.
Dissimilar distribution in men and women
Female sex hormone, estrogen, stimulates storage of fat in buttocks, thighs and hips in women. In menopausal women, decline of estrogen levels initiate migration of fats to their waists and bellies. Among men, higher levels of male sex hormone, testosterone, curb fat deposition by increasing its metabolism; fat is stored mostly around waist and abdomen in men. Due to the predominance of sex hormones in fat distribution, differential development of men and women kicks in at puberty, when these hormones start producing in the body. For the same reason, women assume 'pear' shape, while men tend to have 'apple' shaped bodies.
Fat deposition in definite parts of the body
This is a problem faced by many individuals who, despite regular workouts, find it difficult to budge stubborn fat from specific parts of their bodies. Genetic code dictates such deposition; women tend to have more fat in pelvic areas whereas men are more susceptible to deposition of fat around their midriffs. If these specific parts of the body are exercised, the fatty tissues may get firmer, giving a more toned look. But, to actually mobilize the fat depots, activities that burn calories and break down the contents of fat cells, must be undertaken without increasing food intake. Dietary restriction and regular exercise serves this purpose in the long run. However, a more prompt alternative is liposuction, which surgically removes local fats.
A common misconception is that sweating in sauna or steam rooms reduce weight. By profuse sweating one only loses water content, not fat; this 'loss of weight' is immediately regained on drinking fluids.
Measurement: Body Volume Index
Body Volume Index or BVI, an alternative proposed to Body Mass Index (BMI), is a method that not only measures human obesity but also mass distribution and waist-hip ratio, thereby giving an account of the varying allocation of fat among individuals with the same BMI value. While BMI can be calculated manually by collecting height and weight data, BVI uses 3D Full Body Scanner to determine where the fat is concentrated more conclusively.
Labels: parts , Store , which
