If fat is stores of energy, then why aren’t fat people more energetic than skinny people?

Question

If fat is stores of energy, then why aren’t fat people more energetic than skinny people?

In: 302

Answer 1

Because they’re not using it, they’re storing it. If it was being used then it wouldn’t be accumulating.

Edit: in a little less eli5 extra bit, fat isn’t “stored energy” in that sense. It’s stored fuel/components. It has to be broken down and converted into glucose (eventually, after several other breakdown and use processes) like anything else, and it takes energy to do so. It also takes additional energy to store and carry fat. So an excess of stored fat actually puts you at an energy deficit.