What are roles of body fat in shaping your health and mind?

While you may not always appreciate the additional weight that can accumulate around your hips, thighs, abdomen, and other areas, a small amount of fat is not inherently negative. In fact, it can be beneficial, serving as a buffer against external physical stress, offering insulation, and even generating advantageous hormones.

Understanding the roles of body fat, particularly in the context of health, leads us to ask: What are roles of body fat in shaping your health and mind?

Nevertheless, when subcutaneous fat (the fat located just beneath the skin) increases excessively, it may start to gather in other regions, such as between your intestines and other abdominal organs. This type of fat is referred to as visceral fat, which can lead to significant health issues.

For centuries, body fat has been perceived as a passive, lard-like material. We carry it with us and often loathe it – yet this pale, oily tissue is now being radically re-evaluated. Rather than being a mere nuisance, it functions as an organ – one that is active and surprisingly communicative, possessing its own memory and capable of affecting various aspects such as appetite, metabolism, fertility, mood, and immunity.

It turns out that fat is not a singular entity. It exists in white, brown, beige, and even pink varieties – each serving unique purposes and located in different areas – and comprises a combination of immune cells, nerves, and blood vessels that enhance its capabilities.

“You would not face any opposition today if you asserted that fat is an organ, similar to how your lungs, liver, or spleen are classified as organs,” states Paul Cohen from The Rockefeller University in New York, who studies metabolic diseases and cancers associated with obesity. This evolution in perspective is transforming our understanding of body fat and obesity. It challenges our approach to eliminating fat and is even encouraging some researchers to investigate methods to reprogram it instead – not only to address obesity but also to enhance our overall health.

Body fat functions as a crucial, active endocrine organ that is vital for health and survival, performing roles that range from energy storage and hormone regulation to organ protection and insulation. Nevertheless, both excessive and insufficient body fat can lead to considerable adverse effects on physical and mental health.

Role in Physical Health

Body fat serves several essential functions in maintaining physical health:

1. Energy Storage and Release: The main role of white adipose tissue is to store surplus calories as triglycerides and to release fatty acids for energy when the body requires fuel.
2. Insulation and Protection: Subcutaneous fat (located beneath the skin) provides insulation to help regulate body temperature, while visceral fat (surrounding organs) serves as a cushion for vital organs such as the kidneys, liver, and heart.
3. Hormone Regulation: Fat cells generate and release various hormones and signaling molecules, including leptin (which aids in regulating appetite and metabolism), adiponectin (which enhances insulin sensitivity), and sex hormones like estrogen. A certain level of body fat is essential for normal hormonal function, and inadequate fat can interfere with processes such as menstruation and immune response.
4. Vitamin Absorption: Dietary fats are crucial for the body to absorb fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K).
5. Immune Function: Adipose tissue houses immune cells and plays a role in the body’s immune responses, including inflammation.

Health Implications of Dysfunctional Fat

1. Excessive Fat (Obesity): An overabundance of body fat, especially visceral fat surrounding abdominal organs, constitutes a significant risk factor for chronic illnesses such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke, certain types of cancer, and sleep apnea. Enlarged adipocytes linked to obesity can instigate chronic low-grade inflammation throughout the body, disrupting insulin functionality and heightening the risk of disease.
2. Insufficient Fat: A deficiency in body fat (below 5% in men and 10% in women for essential fat) can have harmful effects, resulting in hormonal imbalances (for instance, loss of bone density in women due to decreased estrogen levels), weakened immune response, and potential organ damage.

What are roles of body fat in shaping your health and mind?

Role in Mental Health and Mind

The complex communication network between adipose tissue and the brain plays a crucial role in influencing mental health and cognitive abilities:

1. Mood Regulation: Adipose tissue interacts with the central nervous system via hormones and neural pathways. Disruptions in hormones such as leptin, along with chronic inflammation linked to excess fat, have been associated with mood disorders including depression and anxiety.
2. Cognitive Function: Elevated body fat, especially central obesity, correlates with an increased risk of cognitive deterioration, manifesting as difficulties in memory, attention, and executive functions.
3. Brain Structure: Research suggests that obesity may induce both structural and functional alterations in the brain, resulting in diminished brain volume in regions responsible for memory and emotional regulation.
4. Gut-Brain Axis: The gut microbiome is affected by dietary habits and body fat, and its modification in the context of obesity can influence the gut-brain axis, thereby further affecting mood and cognitive performance.

In summary, maintaining an appropriate level and distribution of body fat is essential for both physical and mental health. It is crucial to uphold a healthy balance through proper nutrition and physical activity for overall wellness. For tailored advice, it is advisable to consult a healthcare professional.

Source: New scientists, nutrition source, mednews