Triglycerides are composed of a 3-carbon glycerol molecule with a fatty acid being attached to each carbon. Fatty acids are long chain hydrocarbons, ranging from 6 to 28 carbons in length. Among the biological roles of triglycerides are energy storage and insulation. Animal fats are usually saturated, while most plant triglycerides are unsaturated and are called oils. Diets high in saturated fats are often linked to higher risks of cardiovascular disease.
American diets are often quite high in fat content and obesity is a common health problem.
Distribution of fat and fat cells play important roles in health. An interesting Web site about the nutrition of fast foods is available at this site . You can check out most, if not all, of the major fast food companies and see what you are actually eating. Steroids are lipids in which the long carbon chain are bent and joined to form fused rings. Cholesterol is a good example of a steroid and is a very important starting point for the manufacture of steroidal hormones.