What comprises about 60% of the body's weight?

Prepare for the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) National Credential Test. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question provides hints and explanations. Get ready to excel on your exam!

Water comprises about 60% of the body's weight, making it a critical component of human physiology. This significant percentage highlights the essential role water plays in various bodily functions, including temperature regulation, nutrient transport, and waste elimination. It also serves as a solvent in many biochemical reactions, facilitating metabolism and other vital processes.

In contrast, proteins, fats, and carbohydrates each contribute to body weight, but to a lesser extent. While proteins are essential for building and repairing tissues, fats are a major energy store and play roles in cell structure and hormone production, carbohydrates primarily serve as a quick energy source and are found in various proportions throughout the body's tissues. However, none of these macronutrients reaches the same level of representation in body weight as water.

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