Brown Fat and Why It Matters
Most people know there are different types of fat. Today, we'll look at brown fat. The two main types of fat are white and brown. You might know about subcutaneous and visceral fat, which are white fat. Brown fat is different and can actually help with weight loss. But it's hard to use brown fat, and we're just starting to understand it better. Most scales can tell you how much body fat you have. Some even show subcutaneous and visceral fat. But to measure brown fat, you need a special test called PET/CT.
White Fat
White fat stores energy. Subcutaneous fat is under the skin, usually in the hips, arms, and legs. You can see it easily, and it can make people feel self-conscious. It doesn't always cause big health problems, but it can hurt your joints. When you have a lot of weight, it puts extra stress on your joints. Over time, this can cause osteoarthritis. It can also cause skin problems from rubbing, like between your thighs or under your breasts.
Visceral fat is in your belly area. It can be around organs like your liver, kidneys, and heart. Visceral fat is dangerous because it causes inflammation in your body. Too much visceral fat can increase your risk of metabolic syndrome, diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure.
Brown Fat
Brown fat is less known. Research shows that brown fat helps control body temperature, how much energy your body uses, and how much fat you have. Babies have a lot of brown fat around their collarbones, shoulder blades, and spine. As we grow up, we lose most of our brown fat. The more brown fat you have, the faster your metabolism. It's hard to increase brown fat. Scientists are studying ways to make more brown fat or make it work better. They're looking at a medicine called Mirabegron that might activate brown fat. Another interesting way to make brown fat work better is being cold. But be careful not to get frostbite!
Cold is one of the best ways to stimulate brown fat. In one study, men with low brown fat activity stayed in a cold place for 2-6 hours every day for several weeks. Their brown fat activity went up a lot, and their body fat went down.
Conclusion
There are different types of fat. Some are useful, and some are dangerous. We all need some fat to survive and for our bodies to work right. We're just starting to learn more about brown fat. In the future, there might be medicine to help people with very low levels of brown fat. Cold exposure might also become a bigger part of treating obesity.
Stay Healthy,
Dr. Leon Katz
Resources:
Combating Obesity With Thermogenic Fat: Current Challenges and Advancements. Ruping Pan, et al. Front. Endocrinol., 14 April 2020. Sec. Obesity Volume 11 - 2020 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2020.00185. Link to article
This blog is for informational purposes. Please talk to your doctor for your safety.
Article conceived and written by Dr. Katz, polished with AI.
DISCLAIMER: The content in this blog is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this blog or on this website.
