Fat storage in the body

Where is fat stored?

The body has 2 areas that fat can be stored in. These areas are classified as-

Visceral Fat

• Visceral Fat – Deep internal fat also situated around the organs. Visceral fat is often referred to as ‘belly fat’.
• Cavitation – Fat removal at 3cm.
• RF – Fat Melting at 2-2.5cm.
• In a health setting, the word visceral means in or near your vital organs (your viscera). Visceral fat surrounds vital organs located in your midsection like the heart, lungs, liver, stomach, and intestines.

While too much of any kind of fat can be dangerous, there are certain health risks associated with having too much visceral fat as if can affect the essential organs.

Risks Associated with Visceral Obesity

• Diabetes
• High cholesterol
• High blood pressure
• Heart disease

Subcutaneous fat

Subcutaneous fat is located underneath the skin. This kind of fat is located all over your body and is important for your body to function properly.

Subcutaneous fat has five main functions:

1. It is where the body stores energy.
2. To protect your muscles and bones from the impact of hits or falls, like an air bag.
3. It is a communication pathway for nerves and blood vessels.
4. It insulates your body to protect against the cold.
5. It fastens the skin to the muscles and bones with its special connecting tissue.

Subcutaneous fat is an important function of protecting the body, but if the body is storing too much of it, there is an increased risk for health problems including:

• heart disease and strokes
• high blood pressure
• type 2 diabetes
• certain types of cancer
• sleep apnoea
• fatty liver disease
• kidney disease

White fat cells

Most of the body fat is made up of white fat cells. Fat cells make up 20–25 per cent of the total body weight in a healthy body.

Brown fat cells

These are found only at the following sites: around scapula, nape of neck and large blood vessels. Brown fat is more effective when producing energy (heat).

The most common method recommended for reducing excess fat are diet and physical activity.

Diet

The basic principle of losing fat via diet is to consume fewer calories than you burn.

Physical activity

One way your body stores energy is by building up fat. To get rid of the build-up of fat, calories must be used/burned.

Aerobic activity is the most commonly recommended way to burn calories. This type of activity  includes walking, running, cycling, swimming, and other movement-based activities that increase the heart rate.  Many people who are increasing their activity to lose fat also participate in strength training like lifting weights. This type of activity increases lean muscle which can boost your metabolism and help burn calories.