eli5: Why are babies so fat for the first few months of their lives?

Question

eli5: Why are babies so fat for the first few months of their lives?

In: 78

Answer 1

Brown fat to burn so they stay warm, when kids turn 5 or so they can regulate their body temperature. That’s why little kids get sick all the time their bodies can’t run a proper fever.

Answer 2

Brown fat to burn so they stay warm, when kids turn 5 or so they can regulate their body temperature. That’s why little kids get sick all the time their bodies can’t run a proper fever.

Answer 3

[removed]

Answer 4

[removed]

Answer 5

[removed]

Answer 6

Babies grow more on the first year of life than they will grow for every year thereafter. They need the stored fat for energy to grow.

Answer 7

Babies grow more on the first year of life than they will grow for every year thereafter. They need the stored fat for energy to grow.

Answer 8

Babies grow more on the first year of life than they will grow for every year thereafter. They need the stored fat for energy to grow.

Answer 9

It’s insulation from temperature, padding for their exploits, **and** fuel storage for growth. And I’ve probably missed something. But it does a lot of jobs, which is why they’ve got a little more and then perspective (little baby body, little bit more fat) exaggerates the chubbiness.

Answer 10

It’s insulation from temperature, padding for their exploits, **and** fuel storage for growth. And I’ve probably missed something. But it does a lot of jobs, which is why they’ve got a little more and then perspective (little baby body, little bit more fat) exaggerates the chubbiness.