Adipose tissue

Adipose tissue, also called body fat, is a special connective tissue made of cells named adipocytes. It also has other cells such as preadipocytes, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and immune cells, including adipose tissue macrophages. Its main job is to store energy as lipids, but it also helps protect and insulate the body.

We once thought fat just sat still, but now scientists know it is very important. Fat tissue works like a gland and makes many hormones, like leptin, estrogen, resistin, and cytokines. If a person has too much fat, the tissue can release things that lead to health problems such as metabolic syndrome, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and atherosclerosis.

There are two main kinds of fat tissue. White adipose tissue stores energy, and brown adipose tissue helps keep the body warm. Fat tissue was first described by a Swiss scientist named Conrad Gessner in 1551. Fat tissue comes from special cells called preadipocytes, and genes help control how it forms.

Anatomical features

Adipose tissue, also called body fat, is found in many places in the body. It is under the skin, around organs, in bone marrow, between muscles, and in the breast. Besides the main cells called adipocytes, adipose tissue contains other cells such as preadipocytes, fibroblasts, macrophages, and endothelial cells.

Adipose tissue has many small blood vessels. Under the skin, it helps protect the body from heat and cold. Around organs, it gives support. Its main job is to store energy in the form of fats for when the body needs them. It also helps control hunger signals to the brain.

Obesity

When a person has too much adipose tissue, especially around the abdomen, it is called being obese. This extra fat can make surgery more difficult. Obesity can be managed with exercise, healthy eating, and sometimes medical help.

Visceral fat

Visceral fat, or abdominal fat, is found inside the abdominal cavity between organs like the stomach, liver, and intestines. Unlike the fat under the skin, visceral fat can be linked to health issues such as type 2 diabetes. Men often have more visceral fat than women due to sex hormone differences. Regular aerobic exercise and a healthy diet can help reduce visceral fat.

Subcutaneous fat

Most of the fat under the skin is called subcutaneous fat. This fat is found in areas like the hips, thighs, and buttocks, especially in women, and is less harmful to health than visceral fat. Subcutaneous fat also helps in making hormones.

Marrow fat

Marrow fat is a special type of fat found in bone marrow. It changes with exercise and food intake, like other body fats.

Ectopic fat

Ectopic fat is when fat builds up in organs like the liver or pancreas, where it is not normally stored. This can affect how those organs work and is linked to health problems. Losing weight with diet and exercise can help reduce ectopic fat.

Physiology

Adipose tissue, also called body fat, is a special kind of connective tissue made mostly of fat cells named adipocytes. It also has other cells like preadipocytes, fibroblasts, and immune cells. Its main job is to store energy as fats, but it also helps protect and insulate the body.

Fat cells help keep the levels of certain fats and sugars in the body balanced. They also play a part in how the body uses insulin, a substance that helps control blood sugar. Fat around the belly can affect health and is linked to problems with blood sugar and heart disease. Scientists are studying stem cells from fat tissue, which can help regrow tissues and might be useful for treating diseases.

Body fat meter

See also: Bioelectrical impedance analysis

A body fat meter is a tool used to measure how much body fat to weight ratio a person has. Some meters use a method called bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). This method passes a small, safe electric current through the body and measures how much the body resists the current. Using this information, along with the person’s weight, height, age, and whether they are male or female, the meter can estimate body fat percentage. This method is quick and easy to use but is not always very exact. Other ways to measure body fat include skin fold methods with calipers, underwater weighing, whole body air displacement plethysmography (ADP), and DXA.