Final answer:
Body tissues store excess energy mainly as glycogen, which is found in the liver and skeletal muscle cells. Glycogen serves as a quick-access energy reserve that can be converted back to glucose when needed. If glycogen stores are full, excess glucose is turned into fatty acids and stored in fat cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
The body tissues store excess energy in two forms: as glycogen and as fat in adipose tissue. Glycogen is the main energy reserve carbohydrate of animals and is particularly abundant in the liver and skeletal muscle cells. When the body has more glucose than it needs for immediate energy, it converts the excess into glycogen, which can be stored with much less water than glucose itself. This polysaccharide serves as a form of energy storage that can be easily converted back to glucose when the body needs it.
During periods of fasting or when you need more energy, these glycogen reserves can be broken down in a process known as glycogenolysis to release glucose into the bloodstream, helping to maintain metabolic balance. If glycogen stores are full, additional excess glucose is transformed into fatty acids and stored in adipose tissue, or fat cells, for later use.