Body fat, or adipose tissue, is often viewed as a bad thing, but it does a lot for our bodies. It stores energy, warms the body and is responsible for numerous metabolic processes.
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00:00Body fat gets a bad rep, but actually we have a lot to thank it for.
00:06Our fat cells tirelessly collect energy from the blood in the form of glucose or fatty acids.
00:12They convert these into triglycerides, which they store inside themselves.
00:17And when the body is short of nourishment, they unpack their reserves and share them out.
00:23In addition, they also keep us warm.
00:30We have plenty of fatty or adipose tissue.
00:33In most people, it makes up about a quarter of the body's weight.
00:37On average, women have a little more, which is helpful during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
00:43Fatty tissue consists mainly of white fat cells.
00:47It's found almost everywhere in the body.
00:49But the largest deposits are located in the abdomen and in the buttocks and hips.
00:55Visceral fat also accumulates around the internal organs, especially the liver.
01:01Subcutaneous fat forms a layer directly under the skin.
01:07And then there are the brown fat cells.
01:10These store less fat than the white ones, but boast numerous mitochondria that act like small ovens.
01:20Fat cells are constantly working to build reserves to ensure our survival, even when we don't have enough to eat.
01:27But when fat and sugar are in plentiful supply, these reserves get bigger and bigger.
01:35Our brain remains oblivious to this at first.
01:40That's why fatty tissue produces the hormone leptin.
01:44It sends signals to the brain when food intake can stop.
01:49Then appetite decreases and the fat cells can take a well-earned break.
01:54One cause of obesity is when this regulatory cycle doesn't work properly.
01:58Sometimes the receptors in the brain are insensitive to leptin.
02:02Then fat cells say they're full, but there's no feeling of satiation.
02:07More food intake then leads to more fatty tissue and, in turn, more leptin.
02:12And the receptors grow even less sensitive.
02:17Too much fatty tissue can put a strain on the heart and liver and lead to chronic inflammation and diabetes.
02:29Fatty tissue is highly malleable and changes constantly throughout our lives.
02:35It shapes our appearance like no other organ.
02:39And it deserves just as much love as every other part of the body.