The Science of Fat Burning

Over-the-counter fat-reducing drugs and supplements strengthen the credibility of their claims through the use of scientificish reports and anatomical diagrams with bold arrows.

- By Daniel Gwarney

While the science might be confusing (sometimes by design), who can say "no" to bold RED arrows? To avoid being inappropriately swayed, it is important for the consumer to understand the science well enough to discern among truth, fiction, and falsehood.

Facts on Fat

To keep things simple, fat in this article refers to the yellowish tissue that accumulates under the skin and around organs, often the result of overeating and leading an inactive lifestyle. Each meal we consume usually contains more calories than the body can use immediately, so excess nutrients are shuttled into tissues specifically designed to store the calories for later use. Sugars and some amino acids (from protein) can be stored as long-chain starch called glycogen. Most glycogen stores are in skeletal muscle and the liver. Fat and excess sugar can also be stored as, well, fat. Fat is preferentially stored in specialized tissue called adipose, which is mostly comprised of white fat cells. There are other types of fat cells, brown and beige, but they have a different function.

Though most people bemoan the presence of adipose tissue, it is a vital organ, serving a variety of needs. Adipose stores energy for later use during periods of starvation or prolonged activity; prevents the deposition of fat in abnormal tissue and organs, such as arteries, intermuscular depots, or within the liver; and releases hormones and messenger signals that affect the metabolism of the entire body.!