Waisted: The Biology of Body Fat

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan Denton
Keyword(s):  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Body Fat ◽  
Fat Distribution ◽  
Passive Layer ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Tissue Biology ◽  
Adipose Tissue Dysfunction ◽  
Social Meanings ◽  
Practical Implications

Waisted outlines the fascinating and misunderstood biology of fat (i.e., adipose tissue). This controversial, much-maligned organ plays a crucial yet curiously overlooked role in the global obesity crisis currently wreaking havoc on the world’s healthcare systems and economies. Attaining a better appreciation of the biology of fat, its social meanings, and how these intersect is essential for improving the world’s physical and mental health. Far from being a passive layer of blubber under the skin, fat plays a highly dynamic role in energy metabolism, reproductive health, and immunity, with these links having ancient origins in the evolution of modern humanity. Waisted provides a comprehensive, evidence-based perspective on the biology of fat and its crucial role in human evolution, health, disease, and society. Waisted draws upon biomedical, epidemiological, and evolutionary research to understand adipose tissue biology and the striking relationship between body fat distribution and health outcomes. Waisted demonstrates the practical implications of key conceptual points through relatable real-world cases and highlights how seemingly disparate common and rare diseases may be underpinned by adipose tissue dysfunction. Overall, Waisted covers a wide breadth of material that challenges and reframes the generally negative perspective of fat to highlight the underappreciated importance of adipose tissue biology in humans.

scholarly journals AKR1C2 and AKR1C3 expression in adipose tissue: association with body fat distribution and regulatory variants

2021 ◽  
pp. 111220
Author(s):  
Giada Ostinelli ◽  
Jinchu Vijay ◽  
Marie-Claude Vohl ◽  
Elin Grundberg ◽  
Andre Tchernof
Keyword(s):  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Body Fat ◽  
Fat Distribution ◽  
Body Fat Distribution ◽  
Regulatory Variants

Role of smoking on body fat distribution and coronary artery disease

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Sabet ◽  
S Elkaffas ◽  
S.W.G Bakhoum ◽  
H Kandil
Keyword(s):  
Computed Tomography ◽  
Coronary Artery Disease ◽  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Coronary Artery ◽  
Body Fat ◽  
Fat Distribution ◽  
Relative Distribution ◽  
Coronary Artery Atherosclerosis ◽  
Total Fat ◽  
Artery Disease

Abstract Introduction Smoking and obesity are recognized as important modifiable risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the general perception that smoking protects against obesity is a common reason for starting, and/or not quitting smoking. Purpose To detect the quantity, quality and relative distribution of subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) estimated by abdominal computed tomography in smokers versus non- smokers. Methods The abdominal muscular wall was traced manually to calculate SAT and VAT areas (cm2) (outside and inside abdominal muscular wall respectively) as well as SAT density [Hounsfield units (HU)] at L4-L5 in 409 consecutive patients referred for evaluation of chest pain by multi-slice computed tomography coronary angiography (MSCT-CA). Results 26% of the studied patients (n=107) were current smokers, while the remaining 74% (n=302) never smoked. Coronary artery atherosclerosis was more prevalent in smokers compared to non-smokers (64.5% vs 55.0%; p=0.09). Smokers had statistically significantly lower body mass index (BMI) (31.2±4.3 vs. 32.5±4.7 kg/m2; p=0.015), hip circumference (HC) (98.6±22.5 vs. 103.9±20.9 cm; p=0.031), total fat area (441.62±166.34 vs. 517.95±169.51cm2; p<0.001), and SAT area (313.07±125.54 vs. 390.93±143.28 cm2; p<0.001) as compared to non-smokers. However, smokers had statistically significantly greater waist-to-hip ratio (0.98±0.08 vs. 0.96±0.08; p=0.010), VAT/SAT area ratio (0.41±0.23 vs. 0.35±0.20; p=0.013), and denser SAT depot (−98.91±7.71 vs. −102.08±6.44 HU; p<0.001). Conclusion Smoking contributes to CAD and to the pathogenic redistribution of body fat towards VAT, through limiting SAT potential to expand. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

scholarly journals Visceral obesity is associated with increased soluble CD163 concentration in men with type 2 diabetes mellitus

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lars Peter Sørensen ◽  
Tina Parkner ◽  
Esben Søndergaard ◽  
Bo Martin Bibby ◽  
Holger Jon Møller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Body Fat ◽  
Fat Distribution ◽  
Normal Weight ◽  
Healthy Men ◽  
Soluble Cd163

Monocyte/macrophage-specific soluble CD163 (sCD163) concentration is associated with insulin resistance and increases with deteriorating glycemic control independently of BMI. This led to the proposal of the hypothesis that obesity-associated white adipose tissue inflammation varies between individuals. The objective was to examine the effect of male overweight/obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on associations between adiposity parameters and sCD163. A total of 23 overweight/obese non-diabetic men, 16 overweight/obese men with T2DM, and a control group of 20 normal-weight healthy men were included. Body composition and regional body fat distribution were determined by whole-body dual X-ray absorptiometry scan and abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan. Serum sCD163 concentrations were determined by ELISA. Associations between adiposity parameters and sCD163 were investigated using multiple linear regression analysis. In the normal-weight healthy men, there was no significant association between adiposity parameters and sCD163, whereas in the overweight/obese non-diabetic men, measures of general and regional adiposity were positively associated with sCD163. In the overweight/obese men with T2DM, only visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and the ratio of VAT to abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), a measure of relative body fat distribution between VAT and SAT depots, were positively associated with sCD163. In a multivariate analysis, including VAT, upper-body SAT, and lower-body fat, adjusted for BMI and age, VAT remained a significant predictor of sCD163 in the overweight/obese T2DM men, but not in the overweight/obese non-diabetic men. Our results indicate that VAT inflammation is exaggerated in men with T2DM, and that propensity to store excess body fat viscerally is particularly detrimental in men with T2DM.

scholarly journals The Role of Adipose Tissue in Insulin Resistance in Women of African Ancestry

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia H. Goedecke ◽  
Naomi S. Levitt ◽  
Juliet Evans ◽  
Nicole Ellman ◽  
David John Hume ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Insulin Resistance ◽  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
White Women ◽  
African Ancestry ◽  
Fat Distribution ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Industrialized Countries ◽  
Tissue Biology ◽  
Ectopic Fat Deposition

Women of African ancestry, particularly those living in industrialized countries, experience a disproportionately higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) compared to their white counterparts. Similarly, obesity and insulin resistance, which are major risk factors for T2D, are greater in black compared to white women. The exact mechanisms underlying these phenomena are not known. This paper will focus on the role of adipose tissue biology. Firstly, the characteristic body fat distribution of women of African ancestry will be discussed, followed by the depot-specific associations with insulin resistance. Factors involved in adipose tissue biology and their relation to insulin sensitivity will then be explored, including the role of sex hormones, glucocorticoid metabolism, lipolysis and adipogenesis, and their consequent effects on adipose tissue hypoxia, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Finally the role of ectopic fat deposition will be discussed. The paper proposes directions for future research, in particular highlighting the need for longitudinal and/or intervention studies to better understand the mechanisms underlying the high prevalence of insulin resistance and T2D in women of African ancestry.

Epicardial Adipose Tissue Extent: Relationship With Age, Body Fat Distribution, and Coronaropathy

Obesity ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. 2424-2430 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alina Silaghi ◽  
Marie-Dominique Piercecchi-Marti ◽  
Michel Grino ◽  
Georges Leonetti ◽  
Marie C. Alessi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Body Fat ◽  
Epicardial Adipose Tissue ◽  
Fat Distribution ◽  
Body Fat Distribution

scholarly journals Effect of Exercise Training on Fat Loss—Energetic Perspectives and the Role of Improved Adipose Tissue Function and Body Fat Distribution

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristoffer Jensen Kolnes ◽  
Maria Houborg Petersen ◽  
Teodor Lien-Iversen ◽  
Kurt Højlund ◽  
Jørgen Jensen
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Weight Loss ◽  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Insulin Sensitivity ◽  
Exercise Training ◽  
Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽  
Body Fat ◽  
Interval Training ◽  
Fat Distribution ◽  
Abdominal Fat

In obesity, excessive abdominal fat, especially the accumulation of visceral adipose tissue (VAT), increases the risk of metabolic disorders, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), cardiovascular disease, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Excessive abdominal fat is associated with adipose tissue dysfunction, leading to systemic low-grade inflammation, fat overflow, ectopic lipid deposition, and reduced insulin sensitivity. Physical activity is recommended for primary prevention and treatment of obesity, T2DM, and related disorders. Achieving a stable reduction in body weight with exercise training alone has not shown promising effects on a population level. Because fat has a high energy content, a large amount of exercise training is required to achieve weight loss. However, even when there is no weight loss, exercise training is an effective method of improving body composition (increased muscle mass and reduced fat) as well as increasing insulin sensitivity and cardiorespiratory fitness. Compared with traditional low-to-moderate-intensity continuous endurance training, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and sprint interval training (SIT) are more time-efficient as exercise regimens and produce comparable results in reducing total fat mass, as well as improving cardiorespiratory fitness and insulin sensitivity. During high-intensity exercise, carbohydrates are the main source of energy, whereas, with low-intensity exercise, fat becomes the predominant energy source. These observations imply that HIIT and SIT can reduce fat mass during bouts of exercise despite being associated with lower levels of fat oxidation. In this review, we explore the effects of different types of exercise training on energy expenditure and substrate oxidation during physical activity, and discuss the potential effects of exercise training on adipose tissue function and body fat distribution.

scholarly journals Circulating betatrophin/ANGPTL8 levels correlate with body fat distribution in individuals with normal glucose tolerance but not those with glucose disorders

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Zheng ◽  
Juan Liu ◽  
Beverly S Hong ◽  
Yanbing Li
Keyword(s):  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Glucose Tolerance ◽  
Body Fat ◽  
Lower Limb ◽  
Fat Distribution ◽  
Normal Glucose Tolerance ◽  
Body Fat Distribution ◽  
The Body ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Normal Glucose

Abstract Background: The relationship between betatrophin/ANGPTL8 and obesity has been investigated using body mass index (BMI); however, since BMI reflects overall adiposity rather than body fat distribution, it remains unclear whether fat deposition in different areas of the body affects betatrophin expression. Here, we investigated the correlation between circulating betatrophin levels and body fat distribution in patients with different glucose tolerance. Methods: In 128 participants with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT; n = 64) or normal glucose tolerance (NGT; n = 64), we measured circulating betatrophin levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and body fat distribution (subcutaneous, visceral, and limb fat) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and a body fat meter. Results: After controlling for age, sex, and BMI, betatrophin was correlated positively with visceral adipose tissue-to-subcutaneous adipose tissue ratio ( VAT/SAT ratio; r = 0.339, p = 0.009) and negatively with body fat ratio (BFR; r = -0.275, p = 0.035), left lower limb fat ratio (LLR; r = -0.330, p = 0.011), and right lower limb fat ratio (RLR; r = -0.288, p = 0.027) in the NGT group, with these correlations remaining after controlling for triglycerides. VAT/SAT ratio (standardized β = 0.419, p = 0.001) was independently associated with serum betatrophin levels; however, betatrophin was not associated with body fat distribution variables in the IGT group. Conclusions: Circulating betatrophin levels correlated positively with VAT/SAT ratio and negatively with lower limb fat, but not subcutaneous or upper limb fat, in individuals with normal glucose tolerance. Thus, betatrophin may be a poten­tial biomarker for body fat distribution in individuals without glucose disorders.

scholarly journals Abdominal adipose tissue: Significance and methods of detection

2005 ◽  
Vol 58 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 258-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Biljana Srdic ◽  
Edita Stokic ◽  
Agneza Polzovic ◽  
Sinisa Babovic
Keyword(s):  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Body Fat ◽  
Visceral Fat ◽  
Fat Distribution ◽  
Body Fat Distribution ◽  
Abdominal Adipose Tissue ◽  
Fat Depots ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Menopausal Women

Introduction. The presence of excess fat in the abdomen, out of proportion to total body fat, is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases and other complications of obesity. Histoanatomical characteristics of the abdominal adipose tissue In regard to subcutaneous fat, accumulation of visceral abdominal adipose tissue is more associated with increased metabolic risk. However, mean have more visceral fat than pre-menopausal women. Compared with pre-menopausal women, postmenopausal women have 49% more intraabdominal fat, regardless of age and total fat mass. Measurement of abdominal fat depots Various anthropometric indicators have been suggested for measuring body fat distribution. All of them have advantages and disadvantages, in relation to their interpretation and use. Many are specified as ratios and are difficult to interpret biologically, whereas a change in body fat distribution may exhibit little or no change in the ratios. Waist circumference and sagittal abdominal diameter are good predictors of visceral fat. But, extreme individual variations in visceral to subcutaneous ratio demonstrate the limitations of external anthropometry. The best methods to estimate the amount of visceral fat are imaging techniques like computed tomography or magnetic resonance, but they are expensive and inconvinient in routine practice. Conclusion. Further investigations should provide a simple and optimal indicator of abdominal obesity which should correlate with the amount of viscelar fat and the risk. .

scholarly journals MicroRNA-196a links human body fat distribution to adipose tissue extracellular matrix composition

EBioMedicine ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
pp. 467-475 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catriona Hilton ◽  
Matt J. Neville ◽  
Laura B.L. Wittemans ◽  
Marijana Todorcevic ◽  
Katherine E. Pinnick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Extracellular Matrix ◽  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Body Fat ◽  
Human Body ◽  
Fat Distribution ◽  
Body Fat Distribution ◽  
Matrix Composition
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