Recap: The misunderstood function of fat | Deborah Clegg
Feb 11, 2025
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Deborah Clegg, a leading researcher and Vice President for Research at Texas Tech University, dives into the often-misunderstood role of fat in our bodies. She explains the dual nature of fat cells, likening healthy fat to stretchy spandex and unhealthy fat to cumbersome wool. The discussion also highlights gender differences in fat distribution and offers strategies for mindful eating, particularly for post-menopausal women. Clegg's insights challenge societal norms and promote a healthier understanding of body fat's essential functions.
Body fat is essential for health, acting as an energy reserve and crucial for hormone regulation, especially in women.
Understanding the differences between healthy and unhealthy fat cells can reshape perceptions about body fat and encourage better lifestyle choices.
Deep dives
Understanding Body Fat's Importance
Body fat is vital for health, as it serves as an energy store and plays a significant role in hormone regulation. Fat cells, known as adipocytes, are essential for energy storage, and a deficit in body fat can be just as harmful as having too much. It's critical to recognize that fat is not merely a negative trait; it acts as an endocrine organ, secreting hormones necessary for functions like reproduction. Thus, body fat is not just a storage mechanism but a crucial component of overall health, particularly for women, who require adequate levels for biological processes such as pregnancy.
The Difference Between Healthy and Unhealthy Fat Cells
Healthy fat cells have an expandable capacity that allows them to store extra calories without harming the body, similar to how spandex can stretch. In contrast, unhealthy fat cells, which are more fibrous, cannot expand effectively and lead to harmful calorie storage in organs like the liver and heart. Factors such as estrogen levels influence the transformation between healthy and unhealthy fat cells, with a balance of estrogens and testosterone being crucial for maintaining healthy fat distribution. Understanding that not all fat is detrimental can reshape perceptions and encourage healthier approaches to body weight and fat.
Dietary Choices and Aging Effects on Body Fat Distribution
As individuals age, especially women, there tends to be a natural shift in fat distribution from the hips and thighs to the belly, often leading to increased health risks such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Maintaining muscle mass through exercise is essential, as it helps regulate metabolic rates and can influence fat distribution, even if the underlying shift remains. Incorporating whole foods and reducing consumption of refined carbohydrates can significantly impact overall health, particularly for post-menopausal women who are more insulin resistant. Encouraging mindfulness in dietary choices, focusing on unprocessed foods, supports healthier transitions and better lifestyle habits.
It’s a word that carries a lot of weight. It’s a source of social judgment, a driver of insecurities and a tool exploited by companies in targeted marketing campaigns. It’s no surprise that a recent study found over 40% of people in the US have experienced some form of ‘fat-shaming’.
But do we really understand fat? What it does, how it forms and why its distribution changes as we age.
Prof. Sarah Berry and Prof. Deborah Clegg are here to help us answer some of these questions and change our perception of fat. Deborah Clegg is a professor and Vice President for Research at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso. Sarah is Chief Scientist at ZOE and Professor at King’s College London.
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