In the broadest sense, a mixture of lipids—chiefly triglycerides (lipids containing three fatty acid molecules linked to a molecule of glycerol). More specifically, the term refers to a lipid mixture that is solid at room temperature (20şC); lipid mixtures that are liquid at room temperature are called oils. The higher the proportion of saturated fatty acids in a mixture, the harder the fat.
Boiling fats in strong alkali forms soaps (saponification). Fats are essential constituents of food for many animals, with a calorific value twice that of carbohydrates; however, eating too much fat, especially fat of animal origin, has been linked with heart disease in humans. In many animals and plants, excess carbohydrates and proteins are converted into fats for storage. Mammals and other vertebrates store fats in specialized connective tissues (adipose tissues), which not only act as energy reserves but also insulate the body and cushion its organs.
As a nutrient fat serves five purposes: it is a source of energy (9 kcal/g); makes the diet palatable; provides basic building blocks for cell structure; provides essential fatty acids (linoleic and linolenic); and acts as a carrier for fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K). Foods rich in fat are butter, lard, margarine, and cooking oils. Products high in monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fats are thought to be less likely to contribute to cardiovascular disease. + prikaži više

ETYM Old Eng. grese, grece, French graisse; akin to gras fat, greasy, from Late Lat. grassus thick, fat, gross, Latin crassus. Related to Crass.
(Homonym: Greece).
A thick fatty oil (especially one used to lubricate machinery); SYN. lubricating oil.

ETYM Latin obesitas: cf.French obésité.
Condition of being overweight (generally, 20% or more above the desirable weight for one's sex, build, and height). Obesity increases susceptibility to disease, strains the vital organs, and reduces life expectancy; it is usually remedied by controlled weight loss, healthy diet and exercise.
One third of all people in the us were found to be obese in a 1994 study (an increase on the 1960–80 figure of one fourth).
The state or quality of being obese. + prikaži više