atherton state high school · 14/05/2018 · fat to keep going. but what actually happens when you...
TRANSCRIPT
Paying School Fees
Chris’ Weekly Spot
FACTS about FATS: Although it tends to get a bad rap, fat is an important nutrient that our
bodies need in order to function. Fat is a macronutrient along with carbohydrates and protein.
Macronutrients are nutrients that provide calories or energy. The primary function of fat is as an
energy reserve. Fat acts like a battery, ready to provide energy for you when you need it the most.
During activity, the body first uses carbohydrates for energy. After about 20 minutes, it uses stored
fat to keep going.
But what actually happens when you dip into those fat reserves? And when
you burn fat where does it actually go?
Humans have fat cells that develop primarily during childhood and puberty. After that, the number
of fat cells in your body remain relatively stable. These cells make up our adipose (fat) tissue, and
they can send out hormones (chemical messengers) into the body to help regulate everything from
metabolism to body weight. Because we generally have a set number of these cells, gaining weight
doesn't typically involve making more. Instead, individual cells expand as the digestive system breaks
down food and stores it for later use. The fat cells then shrink when the body needs to use the
energy contained within.
All of the fat used by the body doesn't get turned directly into energy and it doesn't magically
transform into muscle. But it has to go somewhere. Much as you might want it to, fat can't just
disappear. The fat inside your adipose cells is stored and then sent back out into your body as
triglycerides. These go through a series of chemical reactions to convert into energy, but the process
isn't 100% efficient. Our bodies are good, but they're not that good! Along with the energy
produced, the process of using up fat stores creates the by-products water and carbon dioxide.
Some of the water produced as the body consumes fat exits in the usual way, through your urine
and sweat. Most of the by-products of fat (including all that carbon dioxide) leaves the body
through the respiratory system. You breathe out the by-products of most of the fat that you burn.
So that’s where your fat goes. It literally vanishes into thin air!!! Maybe it’s something to think about
while you hit the gym or go for that run: getting rid of fat can be exhausting, but it's as natural as
breathing.
CHRIS SILVA - SCHOOL NURSE
Year 12 - Student Connect magazine and student learning account login competition
Student Connect magazine highlights key aspects of Year 12 students’ final year of study, including the
Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE), Queensland Core Skills (QCS) Test, Overall Positions (OPs) and Field Positions (FPs).
The May 2018 issue of Student Connect will start arriving in schools from early May.
In this issue, QCAA is encouraging students to log in to their learning accounts on the Student Connect website (https://studentconnect.qcaa.qld.edu.au) to check their details and become familiar with the login process
before results are released at the end of the year.
As an incentive, any Year 12 student who logs in to their learning account at least once between 1 May and 31 August 2018 will be entered into a draw to win an Apple MacBook Pro.