Final answer:
The body releases fats and sugars during the fight-or-flight response in order to provide immediate energy for survival. This response quickly utilizes glycogen reserves to fuel the body, which is advantageous for short-term survival but can lead to depletion of energy reserves if the response continues long-term.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the fight-or-flight response, the body releases fats and sugars to provide a quick source of energy. This physiological reaction is triggered by stressors that challenge homeostasis, prompting the sympathetic nervous system to stimulate an increase in energy levels through elevated blood glucose levels. This energy is necessary for potentially intense physical activity to either confront a threat (fight) or to escape from it (flight).
The fight-or-flight response is advantageous in the short-term because it prepares the body to handle immediate danger. This preparation includes stimulating access to glycogen reserves for a rapid release of glucose into the bloodstream, but these reserves can be depleted quickly. Therefore, while this response is essential for acute survival situations, it is not sustainable in the long-term and can lead to depleted energy reserves if the stressor persists for too long.