Know 6 Different Types Of Body Fat In The Body With Their Roles!

Six types of body fat can be categorised in the human body, each playing a distinct role. The primary types are white fat, brown fat, and beige fat. White fat mainly stores energy and insulates the body. Brown fat, primarily found in newborns and hibernating mammals, generates heat by burning calories through thermogenesis, helping maintain body temperature. Beige fat is found within white fat tissue and can burn calories like brown fat. This proves that not all types of body fat are the same.

Each type of body fat contributes to overall health and energy balance in different ways, highlighting the complexity and importance of fat distribution in the body. Various types of body fat have different properties and effects on health. Let’s explore the different types of body fat, their functions, and the effects they can have on your health.

Table Of Contents

1. What Is Body Fat? About Kinds Of Fat In The Body

2. 6 Different Types Of Body Fat

3. Dietitian’s Recommendation

4. The Final Say

5. FAQs

6. References

What Is Body Fat? About Kinds Of Fat In The Body

Body fat or adipose tissue in the body is a connective tissue type that stores energy as triglycerides. It helps the immune system by protecting the body's vital organs and regulating hormones. Although necessary for survival, excess body fat, especially around the organs, can lead to serious health problems such as diabetes and heart disease.

Also Read: Weight Loss Vs. Fat Loss: Difference, Benefits, Strategies And More!

6 Different Types Of Body Fat

Six different types of body fat offer different functions for health. Let’s have a look at every kind of body fat and understand its role:

1. White Fat

White fat is the type of fat most people immediately think of. It consists of large white cells deposited under the skin or around organs in the abdomen, arms, buttocks, plus thighs. These fat cells are for storing energy for later use in your body. 

This type of body fat also helps regulate hormones like estrogen, leptin (one hormone that stimulates hunger), insulin, cortisol (a stress hormone), and growth hormone. While some white fat is essential for good health, too much white fat is harmful.

2. Brown Fat

Brown fat is the type of fat primarily found in infants, although adults still retain very small amounts of brown fat, usually in the neck and shoulders. This particular type of body fat burns fatty acids to keep you warm. Scientists are interested in finding stimulating ways for activating brown fat to help prevent obesity.

3. Beige Fat

Beige fat is a relatively new body fat in research. These fat cells eventually function somewhere between brown and white fat cells. Like brown fat, beige cells can help burn fat rather than store it. 

It's thought that certain hormones and enzymes that are released when you're stressed, have a cold, or when you exercise can help turn white fat into beige. This is an exciting area of research that may help prevent obesity and maximise healthy body fat levels.

Also Read: Best 6 Ways To Increase Lean Body Mass At Home

4. Subcutaneous Fat

This fat refers to the fat stored right under the skin. It is a combination of brown, beige, and white fat cells. Most of our body fat is subcutaneous. It's the fat you can squeeze or pinch on your arms, stomach, thighs, and buttocks. 

Fitness professionals use callipers to measure subcutaneous fat as a way to estimate total body fat percentage. A certain portion of subcutaneous fat is normal and healthy, but too much causes imbalance in hormone levels and sensitivity.

5. Visceral Fat

Visceral fat, or your "belly fat," is the white type of body fat that is stored in your abdomen and around major organs, like your liver, kidneys, pancreas, intestines, and heart. High visceral fat levels can increase diabetes chances, heart disease, stroke, artery disease, and some cancers.

6. Essential Fat

Fat is essential for your life and for keeping a healthy body. This fat is present in your brain, bone marrow, nerves, and membranes that protect your organs. Essential fat plays a major role in hormonal regulation, including hormones that eventually control fertility, vitamin absorption, and temperature regulation. 

To be healthy, women need at least 10 to 13% of body composition from essential fat, while men need at least 2 to 5 per cent.

Also Read: What Is Muscle-To-Fat Ratio? How To Calculate and Improve It?

Dietitian’s Recommendation

As a dietitian, I insist that it is crucial to lessen visceral fat deposition in the body because it is home to many health issues like diabetes, hypertension, and insulin sensitivity. Also, the subcutaneous fat beneath the skin plays a role in causing issues, although it is less harmful. Taking precautions to maintain both visceral and subcutaneous fat in the body leads to a healthy body and improved quality of life. 

Dt. Akshata Gandevikar

The Final Say

Understanding the different types of fat in the body and their roles in the body is important to maintaining your health. Although some fat is necessary and even beneficial, excess fat, especially visceral fat, can cause serious health problems. You can improve your body fat and improve your health by managing your health through diet, exercise, sleep, and stress management.

FAQs

1. How do I know what type of fat I have?

You can use the BMI calculator or callipers with the help of a dietitian or healthcare professional to understand what type of body fat you have.

2. What body fat is unhealthy?

Visceral body fat is considered unhealthy as it can cause health implications like insulin sensitivity, high blood pressure, etc.

References

• https://www.webmd.com/diet/features/the-truth-about-fat

• https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/healthy-weight/measuring-fat/

• https://www.netmeds.com/health-library/post/body-fat-know-about-types-of-body-fat-benefits-and-role-of-diet

• https://www.osmosis.org/answers/adipose-tissue

• https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/nutrition/weight/best-way-to-measure-body-fat

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