Why can’t you be healthy with super low body fat %, let’s say 2%? If the body still gets energy through metabolism, I don’t see how there’s a problem.

Question

Why can’t you be healthy with super low body fat %, let’s say 2%? If the body still gets energy through metabolism, I don’t see how there’s a problem.

In: 14

Answer 1

In the most simple terms, when you get to 2% you are past the levels of fat that your body uses for extra energy and you have actually lost functional fat. Functional fat is fat that is necessary for your body’s structure and function and is not primarily an energy reserve. For instance, the fat under the skin has an essential role in protecting the underlying tissue.