ALL ABOUT FAT
How It Works UK|Issue 194
Fat is a complex, active organ. Here's how genetics, evolution, lifestyle and diet dictate how much we have beneath our skin
AILSA HARVEY
ALL ABOUT FAT

The word 'fat' has become a stigmatised slur, its importance being considered largely aesthetic over its biological purpose. In reality, there's more to fat than meets the eye, and there is much more to understand when considering fat health than just our lifestyle choices. Fat serves our bodies by providing energy to survive when food isn't accessible. Most people today rarely encounter a situation where food is hard to come by. Yet for our early human ancestors, fat tissue beneath the skin was a buffer between survival and starvation. Fat is broken down in the body into fatty acids, releasing energy for all the cells in your body to use. When your energy levels deplete, the body relies on fat as a backup. The organ is also an effective insulator, which helps regulate your body temperature.

Fat cells don't just remain passive, waiting for their moment of glory. Every day, fat tissue works to control essential biological functions. There are two types of fat: essential fat - which makes up the membranes of our bodies' cell building blocks - and non-essential, or storage fat. Storage fat is the fat referred to when acknowledging weight gain, as this tissue is stored beneath the skin. But storage fat also holds essential functions, such as releasing chemical messengers called hormones to interact with other organs. In doing this, the fat itself is responsible for managing its own levels. When you have eaten too much, fat sends a message to the brain that you don't need any more food, preventing too much extra body fat being added.

More than a billion people in the world live with obesity. By taking a closer look at the function of fat, the causes of fat gain and the pitfalls of unhealthy fat tissue, scientists can get closer to understanding the complexities of this organ and the broader causes of the obesity epidemic.

Did you know?

Just 1 in 340 people carry the MC4R gene

Esta historia es de la edición Issue 194 de How It Works UK.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición Issue 194 de How It Works UK.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE HOW IT WORKS UKVer todo
THE POWER OF WATER
How It Works UK

THE POWER OF WATER

We're hooked on fossil fuels. But hydroelectric power is becoming an increasingly important replacement for coal and oil

time-read
4 minutos  |
Issue 195
EXPLORING THE MOON'S CAVES
How It Works UK

EXPLORING THE MOON'S CAVES

Earth's rocky neighbour is home to a network of unexplored caves, and scientists are keen to take a peek inside

time-read
3 minutos  |
Issue 195
HOW TO ELECT THE PRESIDENT
How It Works UK

HOW TO ELECT THE PRESIDENT

The campaigns, votes and elections that put someone in America's most powerful office

time-read
3 minutos  |
Issue 195
WHAT IS MORNING SICKNESS?
How It Works UK

WHAT IS MORNING SICKNESS?

Why some pregnancies can cause nausea and vomiting

time-read
2 minutos  |
Issue 195
20 WEIRDEST SCIENCE MYSTERIES
How It Works UK

20 WEIRDEST SCIENCE MYSTERIES

From dark matter to deep-sea crabs, science still can't fully explain these strange quirks of nature

time-read
10+ minutos  |
Issue 195
THE TRIANGULUM GALAXY SHINES IN A NEW HUBBLE IMAGE
How It Works UK

THE TRIANGULUM GALAXY SHINES IN A NEW HUBBLE IMAGE

A nearby galaxy is shining with star formation in a new image from the Hubble Space Telescope.

time-read
1 min  |
Issue 195
The world's fastest charger fully powers smartphones in five minutes
How It Works UK

The world's fastest charger fully powers smartphones in five minutes

Scientists have revealed the fastest battery-charging technology in the world for smartphones, which can fully charge a smartphone in less than five minutes.

time-read
2 minutos  |
Issue 195
Real-time brain stimulation slashes Parkinson's symptoms by half in trials
How It Works UK

Real-time brain stimulation slashes Parkinson's symptoms by half in trials

Brain stimulation that rapidly adjusts in real-time can dramatically reduce Parkinson’s symptoms, an early trial suggests.

time-read
2 minutos  |
Issue 195
The hottest ocean temperature in 400 years threatens the Great Barrier Reef
How It Works UK

The hottest ocean temperature in 400 years threatens the Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is facing the hottest sea surface temperatures in four centuries.

time-read
2 minutos  |
Issue 195
Massive medieval coin hoard worth about 150 sheep' discovered
How It Works UK

Massive medieval coin hoard worth about 150 sheep' discovered

Archaeologists in Germany have unearthed over 1,500 medieval silver coins after a citizen noticed what looked like ‘small metal plates’ while digging during a construction project.

time-read
2 minutos  |
Issue 195