This information might seem counterintuitive at first. Researchers have found that the more you exercise, the better your body becomes at storing fat. But wait: Doesn't exercise help you burn fat? Yes, it does, but the critical point is not whether your body stores fat, since fat storage is necessary for good health, but rather how and where your body stores it.

Researchers from the University of Michigan, writing in Nature Metabolism, discovered that people who exercise regularly have a greater capacity to store fat under the skin, which is beneficial. Why? Because if fat isn't stored under the skin, then it's more likely to accumulate in organs, such as the liver, heart, or pancreas. When excess fat builds up in these organs, it can interfere with their proper function and lead to serious health issues.

In fact, fat is meant to be stored under the skin, where it's safely kept and can be accessed for energy when needed. Regular exercise ensures that fat is stored in this healthier way, allowing your body to tap into those reserves efficiently for extra energy during physical activity or times of need.