Adipose tissue is the part of the body to look at when we talk about fat. When we want to act against body fat, to reduce volume and improve appearance, it is necessary to know which parts of our body store it and how they behave.
What is adipose tissue?
Adipose tissue is the tissue that stores fat, also called fat tissue. It is therefore essential to know how it behaves and what its functions are, in order to be able to work on it and achieve satisfactory results through aesthetic and/or cosmetic actions.
It is composed of adipocytes, which is where fat is stored, which is then transformed into energy, because they are made up of triglycerides.
Functions of adipose tissue
The main functions of adipose tissue are:
- Lipid storage. Lipids are stored in adipose tissue and then used as energy when the body requires it.
- Insulation and protection. Adipose tissue also acts as a barrier that prevents heat loss and protects the most important areas of the body.
- It also has an immunological and endocrine function. It produces hormones and other factors that play an important role in regulating metabolism and overall health.
- Blood pressure stabilization. Adipose tissue may also contribute to blood pressure stabilization by releasing fatty acids that can affect blood vessel constriction or relaxation.
Types of adipose tissue
There are two types of adipose tissue, white and brown. Although, generally, when referring to adipose tissue, we are talking about the white one, which is much more abundant.
- Brown tissue is usually abundant during the first months of life, when its main function is to generate heat. As we grow, its function continues to be to produce heat.
- White tissue can account for 15-20% of body weight in men and 20-25% in women. It is responsible for regulating energy consumption.
Fat, or adipose tissue, is located almost everywhere in the human body, but especially around the organs, under the skin, in the breasts and in the bone marrow.
At this point, nutrition plays a very important role, because when we store more fat than the body is able to consume, it remains concentrated, especially in the belly and buttocks.
When there is an excess of fatty tissue, the chances of suffering from diseases related to aging increase. Adipose fat accelerates this appearance.
Adipose tissue and aesthetics
Stored fat is very difficult to eliminate, due to its own morphology. White fat is made up of larger cells whose metabolization is more complex.
Different aesthetic treatments can be used to reduce the volume of certain areas of the body, where diet and exercise are not able to act.
In these cases, appliances such as our Cavitacell v.2 equipment can reduce the accumulation of body fat deposits.
What are adipocytes
Adipocytes, also called adipose cells or fat cells, form adipose tissue. Their main characteristic is that they are responsible for storing large amounts of fats, in the form of triglycerides.
Women have a greater number and volume of adipocytes than men. The number of these cells is constant throughout life.
When someone gains weight, it is not because the number of adipocytes increases, but because of a change in cell size.
Types of adipocytes
There are two types of adipocytes or adipose cells:
- White adipocytes: formed by a large amount of lipids surrounded by cytoplasm. They contain fat in a semi-liquid state. It is the most abundant adipose tissue.
- Brown adipocytes: formed by cytoplasm and dispersed lipids. Its function is to preserve the temperature of living beings.
The main function of adipocytes is to store lipids in order to maintain body temperature and to obtain energy through the process of cellular respiration.
When too many lipids accumulate, adipocyte size increases (hypertrophy) and overweight appears, which can lead to cardiovascular problems, diabetes and cancer.
If fat continues to be stored, it can lead to hyperplasia, which is the creation of new adipocytes. This case would result in severe obesity.
Fat tissue is involved in longevity, diseases of aging (diabetes, cancer, hypertension, etc.), inflammation and metabolic dysfunction.
Commitment to quality
This text on adipose tissue has been prepared by professional editors. In addition, we have relied on experts in medicine, engineering and aesthetics as a source of information, as well as specific studies to maintain the quality of what we publish.
At Sisneo Bioscience we are committed to publish truthful and contrasted information. And to update or correct it as soon as new knowledge becomes available.
Among others, we have used the following sources:
- Reyes J. Marcela «Características biológicas del tejido adiposo: el adipocito como célula endocrina» en Revista Médica Clínica Las Condes vol.23 num.2 136-144. doi: 10.1016/S0716-8640(12)70290-0
- Vega-Robledo, Gloria Bertha y Rico-Rosillo, María Guadalupe. (2019). «Tejido adiposo: función inmune y alteraciones inducidas por obesidad» en Revista alergia México, 66(3), 340-353. Epub 19 de febrero de 2020. doi: 10.29262/ram.v66i3.589
- Innocence Harvey, Anik Boudreau y Jacqueline M. Stephens. «Adipose tissue in health and disease» en Open Biology doi:10.1098/rsob.200291
