Elementary School Health

Question
I am a 5th grade teacher in Kansas.  I am looking to put out a weekly newsletter about health.  I guess I am looking for an elementary answer.  My question is: How does our body burn fat?

Thank You

Answer
Hi Joe,

Fat metabolism is one of the most complex things in the whole field of human nutrition!

A very basic answer:

Fat (from stored body fat) supplies 60 percent of the body's energy needs during rest. During exercise or periods of prolonged food deprivation, fat can contribute an even greater percentage of total energy needs.

When the body wants to release fat from the body's fat stores to use as fuel, here's what happens:

An enzyme called hormone sensitive lipase inside the fat cells gets a signal to break down the fats (a type of fat called triglycerides) inside the fat cells and release them. The fat cells (called adipose cells) release the breakdown products (glycerol and fatty acids) directly into the blood. The other cells of the body can then uptake the glycerol and fatty acids and use them as fuel.

Some websites you might find generally useful for your newsletter:
healthychoices.org
nutritionforkids.com
dole5aday.com

Hope that helps!

Karen
www.getfitwithkaren.com

1. Prev:Healthy Eating...
2. Next:Begging for help...