What type of fat is considered essential for the body?

Essential fat is the type of fat that is crucial for the body’s normal physiological functions. This fat is found in the body’s organs, bone marrow, and central nervous system, playing a key role in reproductive functions, hormone production, and the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K).

Essential fat is necessary for maintaining overall health, supporting cellular structures, and serving as a source of energy. Unlike storage fat, which primarily serves as an energy reserve, essential fat fulfills critical biological roles that cannot be compensated for by other types of fat. The body needs a certain percentage of essential fat to function optimally, making it distinct from subcutaneous fat and visceral fat, which do not fulfill the same essential functions.