Final answer:
Fats must be emulsified for the body to absorb them, after which they can be broken down for energy, stored, or converted into other forms like ketone bodies or acetyl CoA.
Step-by-step explanation:
Once fats are emulsified, the body can break them down and absorb them. The detailed answer to how the body processes fats involves several steps. First, fatty acids are released from the digestion of triglycerides and other lipids. These fatty acids are then broken down through a series of sequential reactions, releasing usable energy. This process is a part of lipolysis. The glycerol that comes from the breakdown of fats can be converted into dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP), which in turn may enter the glycolytic pathway or be used by the liver for gluconeogenesis.
Additionally, after the absorption of fatty acids, they diffuse across the cell membrane, are reassembled into triglycerides, and mixed with other lipids and proteins to form chylomicrons, which enter the lymphatic system. These chylomicrons allow fats to be transported within the body's aqueous environments. Moreover, when dietary fats are not used immediately for energy, they can be stored as triglycerides in adipose tissues, or converted into ketone bodies, which may later be transformed into acetyl CoA when required by the body.