Energy, insulation and lipids

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Biology - Energy, insulation and lipids

Energy, insulation and lipids

Penguins in the Antarctic have a thick layer of fat underneath the skin.
This ensures that little heat is lost to the cold water in which they swim.

Like carbohydrates, lipids are energy-rich. One gram of lipid contains
approximately twice the amount of energy as one gram of carbohydrate.
Lipids are therefore an effective way of storing energy. If the amount of
energy in your food is greater than the energy you use, then the excess
energy tends to be stored as fat in your body.

A layer of fat underneath the skin can also be an advantage in a cold
environment as its acts as a good heat insulator.