by Xauri'El Zwaan

Created on: January 23, 2008

There is are a few circumstances in which being plump, corpulent, or even plain obese can be quite beneficial to your health. The first of these is a situation of starvation or famine. The production of fat cells in the human body is an evolutionary adaptation which allowed our distant ancestors to 'bank' unused energy in times of plenty. Ancient primates and early hominids lived in an uncertain world where food was scarce and getting it took a lot of hard work, strenuous hunting, and continual migration. When food is readily available, they would eat their fill and their digestion system converted the unused calories into energy-rich fatty tissue. Calories stored in fat cells are then used by the body as an energy 'battery' which supplies a boost if you are exercising your muscles hard or if you aren't getting enough protein and carbohydrate. Thus, if you are overweight but have fallen on hard times, you will more easily be able to conserve food than somebody who is lean and muscular. Similarly, if your nation is struck by sudden food shortages and everyone is forced to ration, the fat people are going to be able to 'feed off their fat' and will end up staying healthier, longer, than the thin people - a form of biological 'disaster insurance'.

Another circumstance in which being fat can help your state of health is in extremely cold temperatures. It is possible that surviving the ice age also added evolutionary pressure for people to develop a layer of fat cells. If you are exposed to extremely cold temperatures, fat will help you in a couple of ways. First, fat is a good insulator which will help stop internal heat from escaping your body. Second, the carbohydrate stored in fat will provide energy to help you shiver, an autonomic muscle motion which produces extra body heat; to increase your heart rate and circulation to help keep your extremities from developing frostbite; to help keep you from falling asleep; and lastly, to keep you moving longer and faster in order to find warmth and shelter. This is exactly the reason that seals, whales and other arctic animals grow thick layers of energy-rich blubber.

Third, pregnant women need a bit of extra 'baby fat' to help maintain a developing fetus and to feed the infant after it is born. Modern media, advertising, and fashion have conspired to create a culture where 'thin' is seen as desirable; however, this has not always been the case. From ancient Goddess figurines to Renaissance paintings, there is evidence

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