Body fat: It’s soft, it’s squishy and it gets a bad rap. But fat also plays a vital role in keeping our bodies running smoothly. We store extra energy in body fat. It keeps us warm and provides padding for our interior organs. And it secretes chemicals that play a role in appetite and helps regulate menstrual cycles, among other functions.

In other words, in healthy amounts, it’s a wonder organ — but people don’t seem to be very interested in fat except for how to lose it.