One thing most of us know about fat cells is we have more of them than we want or need.
We also know they seem easy to get and much harder to lose, that they make it difficult for us to fit into those much loved jeans, and that swimming next summer might not be an appealing option.
Sure, we might think of them as unsightly, unwanted things. But, behind the scenes there’s a whole lot more to fat cells than we ever could imagine.
Like these 10 incredibly interesting facts…
10. Fat Cells Have A Backbone
It’s strange to think that fat storage wouldn’t be possible if our fat cells didn’t have a backbone. But it’s true.
The type of fat cells that are stored on our belly and hips are more formerly known as triglycerides. The other type of fat we commonly hear about are fatty acids.
To become part of the fat storage process, three fatty acids attach to the backbone of a triglyceride, which is known as glycerol.
To put it more simply – a glycerol backbone, plus three fatty acids, equals a triglyceride – a stored fat cell.
What might come as a surprise, is that the glycerol backbone is not made from fat as one might assume. It is formed from glucose in the bloodstream, meaning carbohydrate foods–like candy, cakes, chocolate, and even bread, pasta and rice–form the backbone of fat cells.
The more glucose we have available in the bloodstream, the more potential we have to produce and store more fat.
9. Fat Cells Have Unlimited Growth Capacity
Scientists once believed that the number of fat cells a person had was defined in childhood. They thought that the number we had was constant throughout our lifetime and that it wasn’t possible for adults to grow new fat cells.
This led obesity researchers to think that the battle of the bulge may be conquered after all – all we had to do was shrink those fat cells.
That was until more research was conducted and many more questions arose.
If “a typical overweight adult has around 75 billion fat cells…[and in] obesity, this number can be as high as 250 to 300 billion”, how could this be true?
Well, we now know it’s not.
Our fat cells can increase in number (hyperplasia), and increase in size (hypertrophy) throughout our lifetime. Once they fill up, they have the ability to multiply.
Incredibly, the human body has unlimited fat storage potential.
8. Fat Cells Are An Endocrine Organ
Fat cells just sit there looking unattractive, right?
Absolutely not. They have the ability to communicate directly with many parts of the body – in more ways than one!
It is now common knowledge that fat cells are an active endocrine organ – no, they don’t just sit there, they actively do things to our bodies metabolism.
Our endocrine system is made up of different glands including the thyroid, pancreas, adrenals, ovaries and testes. All of these glands produce different hormones that regulate the body’s functions.
Amazingly, fat tissue is also part of the endocrine system.
Our fat tissue can communicate with other endocrine organs and our nervous system as well.
Fat tissue also produces a variety of it’s own hormones–leptin, adiponectin, renin–angiotensin system, resistin, and various molecules called cytokines.
And, if your think your sex drive is safe from fat cells, think again. Fat tissue also influences the production of sex steroids and glucocorticoids.
7. Fat Cells Drive Us To Eat More Food
Struggling to overcome those night time cravings or overeating habits?
There could be a good explanation – one that has nothing to do with our lack of willpower.
Leptin is one of the hormones secreted by fat cells – it’s our energy balance and hunger regulating hormone.
The leptin hormone works by signalling the brain that we’re full, suppressing our appetite so we don’t just keep eating and eating.
Problem is, when we secrete too much leptin we get what’s known as leptin resistance.
And here is where the body’s biology comes into play.
It’s not just our willpower making it difficult for us to avoid food cravings. It’s the body’s hormones driving our behavior.
When our body becomes leptin resistant the brain stops recognizing our full signal and we continuously feel hungry, driving us to eat more food.
The endocrine system and the hormones it produces have a very powerful influence on our mind, body and spirit.
6. Fat Cells Are An Incredible Source Of Energy
We’ve all heard that fat is high in energy and it’s true. One gram of either carbohydrates or protein equals four calories, while one gram of fat equals nine calories.
When we don’t eat food, or if we need to use our body fat as a fuel source, we can.
Our body can break down the triglycerides, detaching the fatty acids so they become free fatty acids and can be used as an energy source.
Take long distance swimmers that cross the English channel as an example.
They eat like a pig to gain weight because their body has to tolerate the cold (which burns more energy), and they have to last the 7-11+ hours it takes to do the swim.
In the first part of their endeavor their body utilizes carbohydrates and glycogen stores for fuel, before switching to using stored fat to last the distance. And, because they’re burning so much fat fuel, they lose a minimum of 4 kgs (8.8 lbs) in the time they do their swim.
5. Fat Cells Can Suffocate
Who would have thought that fat cells need to breathe!
But, in order to perform their wide range of metabolic functions, the fat cells need a constant blood supply along with oxygen and nutrients.
Scientists have found that in obesity fat cells can suffocate, it’s known as hypoxia.
If the cells become too large, they lose their ability to diffuse oxygen to the entire cell.
Less oxygen means less blood supply, less nutrients, and therefore dysfunction of the fat cell.
Hypoxia has now been linked to various metabolic issues including insulin resistance, sleep apnea, elevated free fatty acids, immune cell infiltration, and chronic inflammation.
In fact, researchers now believe hypoxia could be involved in the development of type 2 diabetes.
When the fat cells become impaired they promote elevated lipolysis (breakdown of fats and increased hormones) and free fatty acids that deposit in the liver and muscles. Fat in the liver and muscles leads to insulin resistance, and insulin resistance is a precursor to type 2 diabetes.
4. Fat Cells Affect Immune Function
Incredibly fat cells are an important part of our immune system, too.
Macrophages are immune cells that are usually first on the scene when we’re under attack – recruiting other immune cells needed to do the job of making us better.
The more fat cells we have, the more macrophage accumulation and infiltration we have in the cells.
Macrophages “are the primary mediators of the innate immune response, and are important participants in adaptive immunity.”
The innate immune system reacts to a stimulus, the immune cells can do their job, and then the healing is done.
The adaptive immune system, on the other hand, reacts to the stimulus but because the stimulus is ongoing, the immune system can’t perform it’s job properly. The ongoing stimulus leads to the recruitment of more immune cells, increased inflammation, and even changes to the cells.
It’s quite fascinating that our metabolic and immune systems are intricately connected. These alterations that occur in our metabolism are believed to be the cause of modern metabolic and non-communicable such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and so forth.
And, leading this development of disease is low grade inflammation.
3. Fat Cells Stimulate Inflammation
The more fat cells we accumulate and the more they grow, the more immunity is altered, producing various cytokines and adipokines.
Cytokines and adipokines are chemical messengers, hormones and proteins that communicate with other organs in the body. We also call them anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory molecules.
Unfortunately, the majority of the molecules produced by fat cells are pro-inflammatory, driving a low grade inflammation in the bodies cells.
Inflammation is the body’s natural response to injury, stress and trauma. When we get a cut or broken bone the immune system does it’s job and we heal.
Low grade chronic inflammation is a different story.
We can’t see it but within the bodies cells there is a delayed, persistent and ongoing inflammation. That’s when our body switches from innate immunity to adaptive immunity – igniting an army of cells that infiltrate, migrate and proliferate.
Essentially what this means is that cells can change, our immunity and metabolism being altered – which is why inflammation has been strongly connected to the development of many modern health conditions.
2. Fat Cells Can Get Sick
It’s crazy to think that there is scientific research around ‘sick fat.’
Sure we might not like the fact that our butt is a bit too fat. But the truth is that having fat on our butt or thighs is not too bad – it’s considered ‘healthy’ subcutaneous fat. Whereas sick fat, the type of fat we find around our midsection–otherwise known as belly fat, or visceral fat–is literally the stuff that can make us sick.
This type of fat is the fat that wraps around our organs. It’s the active fat that produces all the hormones and affects our immune system and metabolism.
Because of its close relationship with the immune system and inflammation, too much sick fat increases our risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol, along with many more modern conditions.
Discovering this might be enough to convince us to start doing those daily sit ups and keep that belly fat at bay!
1. Fat Cells Are A Source Of Stem Cells
Increased rates of fat cell accumulation–obesity–has been linked to increased rates of cancers such as colon, hematological, prostate, and postmenopausal breast cancers.
For a long time researchers thought this was linked to the increased production and infiltration of immune and inflammatory cells. But surprisingly a new area of science has been delving into adipose stromal/stem cells (ASC).
In obesity the biological properties of ASC change, resulting in the production of more inflammatory molecules and growth factors that promote cancer cell growth.
But there is something good to say about fat cells, too.
ASCs are now recognized as a source of stem cells for regenerative medicine–they are stem cells after all–and what makes stems cells so unique is their ability to differentiate into many different cell types and modulate the immune system without causing reactions or rejections by the host.
That means the stem cells derived from fat are being used to save lives, too.
Pretty fascinating stuff right?! Hope you enjoyed learning about them as much as I did. 
Be sure to click here to subscribe to my nutrition/health newsletter, I’ve got more great recipes and info to come and I’d love to share them with you.
Please share, pin, or tweet this post.
Leave a Reply