Scientists have discovered an alarming characteristic of fat cells – one that was not known until quite recently.  We now know that body fat, known scientifically as white adipose tissue, is not an inert deposit of fat cells, stored in the body as a result of overeating.  Fat cells are anything but inert. They function as a highly active endocrine organ.

Body fat is an agglomeration of cells that communicate with other organ systems, including the brain, liver, bone marrow, adrenal cortex, skeletal muscle, sympathetic nervous system, and immune system.  In addition, body fat produces hormones, as do the organs that make up the endocrine system: the pancreas, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenals, pineal, pituitary, and testes or ovaries.

This is extremely important because it means that the body fat itself controls how much body fat is stored.  Our energy expenditure, appetite, and immune system are also affected because our body fat adipokines can be pro-inflammatory, contributing to chronic, systemic, subclinical inflammation.  This means that the greater amount of body fat, the more inflammation is generated.  This increased inflammation inhibits insulin and energy usage and causes the accumulation of additional excess fat.

Read more about the inflammatory affects of fat and how to combat them in Forever Young.

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