A Body Fat Lesson

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Despite the broad use of the word “fat” to describe all body fat, there are several different types of fat in your body. And while all fat cells might look alike from the outside, they can have different functions, depending on their type, and fat behaves differently, depending on where it’s located.

The main types of fat cells are white, brown, and beige cells.

They can be stored as essential, subcutaneous, or visceral fat.

White fat is made up of large, white cells that are stored under the skin or around the organs in the belly, arms, buttocks, and thighs. These fat cells are the body’s way of storing energy for later use. This type of fat also plays a large role in the function of hormones such as estrogen, leptin, insulin, cortisol, and growth hormone. While some white fat is necessary for good health, too much white fat is very harmful.

Brown fat is a type of fat primarily found in babies, although adults do still retain a very small amount of brown fat, typically in the neck and shoulders. This type of fat burns fatty acids to keep you warm.

Beige fat cells function somewhere between brown and white fat cells. Like brown fat, beige cells can help burn fat rather than store it. It’s believed that certain hormones and enzymes released when you’re stressed, cold, or when you exercise can help convert white fat into beige fat.

Essential fat is exactly that — essential for your life and a healthy body. This fat is found in your brain, bone marrow, nerves, membranes that protect your organs. Essential fat plays a major role in hormone regulation, including the hormones that control fertility, vitamin absorption, and temperature regulation.

Subcutaneous fat refers to the fat stored under the skin. It’s a combination of brown, beige, and white fat cells. Most of our body fat is subcutaneous. It’s the fat that you can squeeze or pinch on your arms, belly, thighs, and buttocks.

Visceral fat, also known as “belly fat,” is the white fat that’s stored in your abdomen and around all your major organs, such as the liver, kidneys, pancreas, intestines, and heart. High visceral fat levels can increase your risk for diabetes, heart disease, stroke, artery disease, and some cancers.

Body fat isn’t just about your size or how you look. What matters is how it affects your health. You must have healthy adipose tissue to be healthy in all other aspects of your physical and mental health.