Body Fat has an Important Physical Role

likitisplit

http://themedicalbiochemistrypage.org/adipose-tissue.php

Adipose tissue is not merely an organ designed to passively store excess carbon in the form of fatty acids esterified to glycerol (triglycerides). Mature adipocytes synthesize and secrete numerous enzymes, growth factors, cytokines and hormones that are involved in overall energy homeostasis. Many of the factors that influence adipogenesis are also involved in diverse processes in the body including lipid homeostasis and modulation of inflammatory responses. In addition, a number of proteins secreted by adipocytes play important roles in these same processes. In fact recent evidence has demonstrated that many factors secreted from adipocytes are pro-inflammatory mediators and these proteins have been termed adipocytokines or adipokines. There are currently over 50 different adipokines recognized as being secreted from adipose tissue. These adipokines are implicated in the modulation of a range of physiological responses that globally includes appetite control and energy balance. Specific metabolic processes regulated by adipose tissue include lipid metabolism, glucose homeostasis, inflammation, angiogenesis, hemostasis (regulation of blood coagulation), and blood pressure.

pwittek10

your point is?

mister_universe

So many big words all smashed together.

royaldrea

Can we get a TL;DR please?

Jennisin1

It has come under scrutiny that too much lipo, the actual removal of fat cells, can cause hormone imbalances and issues. However, dieting does not reduce the number of fat cells, it just reduces their size.

SoDamnHungry

Give us the point, Precioussssssss.

tedrickp

Crazy in depth article :O

That's going to take awhile to read...but thanks for the share.

MapleFlavouredMaiden

TravelinChiGal

This was entirely too many big medical-speak words for my brain to absorb this early in the morning...

Ouch...

likitisplit

It has come under scrutiny that too much lipo, the actual removal of fat cells, can cause hormone imbalances and issues. However, dieting does not reduce the number of fat cells, it just reduces their size.

That's true, but the fat cells need a certain level of stored energy to function.

The TL;DR version is that your fat doesn't passively store energy. It actively regulates the energy released into your bloodstream, triggers hunger, regulates blood pressure and blood clotting, helps with your immune response, etc. etc.

The article explains in detailed terms why a HEALTHY level of fat is necessary. Too much or too little throw this active system out of balance. Which you already know. But this is the biology of WHY.

xalepos

Thanks for sharing this. As somebody who got into myfitness pal for because I was underweight (and suffering a slew of health problems as a result), I think that this fact is far too often overlooked in a culture that sometimes assigns an inverse correlation between body-fat and moral virtue/status. Especially for women, a healthy level of fat is crucial in so many ways. Balance in all things.

ninerbuff

your point is?

That fat isn't all bad. We CANNOT live at 0% body fat nor is carrying single percentage body fat numbers usually the indication of "best" health.
There are people on this site who NEED to gain some weight, but are terrified of it being a portion of fat.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

likitisplit

Also, the website is a great resource explaining some of the things that get argued interminably here in (fairly) simple terms.

mank32

Thanks for sharing this. As somebody who got into myfitness pal for because I was underweight (and suffering a slew of health problems as a result), I think that this fact is far too often overlooked in a culture that sometimes assigns an inverse correlation between body-fat and moral virtue/status. Especially for women, a healthy level of fat is crucial in so many ways. Balance in all things.

:drinker: :drinker:

point = the amount of fat in your body influences the way your body works in a lot of key areas (i.e. it's not just "storage"). women are particularly sensitive to the hormonal aspect. fat is a part of a healthy person: in the right amounts.

Go_Mizzou99

:noway: TL;DR :noway:

BusyRaeNOTBusty

Great.

So how much do we need then?

tallvesl99

thank you dr. know it all, and in other news...............LOL....wow, I never read so much and felt so ignorant.
:laugh:

BlueBombers

Too many fancy words for me :huh:

likitisplit

I used to fall asleep reading this stuff in biology.

Basically, this is the biochemical research that sets the stage for the typical recommendation of:

20-30% in women (most women read that recommendation as "30 is good, 20 is better" Not so. MID-RANGE is the healthiest.)
8 - 19% in men

salembambi

well ive got a lot of it so im set

right? basically?

likitisplit

well ive got a lot of it so im set

right? basically?

Not quite. Because it plays a substantial role by producing enzymes, horomones, etc, too much of it can cause a variety of issues.

Depending on its location WAT serves specialized functions. The WAT associated with abdominal and thoracic organs (excluding the heart), the so-called visceral fat, secretes several inflammatory cytokines and is thus involved in local and systemic inflammatory processes. WAT associated with skeletal muscle secretes free fatty acids, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) and as a consequence plays a significant role in the development of insulin resistance. Cardiac tissue associated WAT secretes numerous cytokines resulting in local inflammatory events and chemotaxis that can result in the development of atherosclerosis and systolic hypertension. Kidney associated WAT plays a role in sodium reabsorption and therefore can affect intravascular volume and hypertension.

So, it can cause you to develop insulin resistance or develop atherosclerosis and hypertension, as examples.

You want enough but not too much.