Excess body fat provides a significant survival advantage during periods of sudden starvation
the verdict
SUPPORTED
the evidence backs this
confidence 87/100
Excess body fat acts as an evolutionarily conserved energy reservoir that provides a vital survival advantage during periods of sudden starvation and food scarcity.
Evidence for · 5
The impact of fasting on adipose tissue metabolism.
2022 · cited by 81
Paper [0] explains how evolutionary mechanisms use stored adipose tissue as an essential energy reserve during fasting and starvation.
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More for · 4
Significance of Adipose Tissue Maintenance in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis
2021 · cited by 27
Paper [1] notes that fat mass serves as a crucial nutritional reserve and energy storage mechanism against catabolic conditions like starvation.
Function and Regulation of Bone Marrow Adipose Tissue in Health and Disease: State of the Field and Clinical Considerations
2024 · cited by 14
Paper [3] highlights bone marrow adipose tissue as a final fuel reserve designed for survival during periods of starvation.
The Endocrinological Basis for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: An Evolutionary Perspective.
2025 · cited by 2
Paper [6] discusses the evolutionary perspective that fat accumulation and metabolic traits provided ancestral survival advantages during food scarcity.
Interplay between obesity-associated insulin resistance and immune system through the lens of evolutionary medicine.
2026 · cited by 0
Paper [8] describes how ancient human survival relied on energy storage in adipose tissue to endure sudden food shortages.