Hi there,
I will be honestâautumn hit me pretty hard. The motivation and excitement summer gives me are nowhere to be seen. I know mindset is everything. I am working on it, but a bit of complaining helps sometimes. I am indulging in reading, early nights, and planning my honeymoon (đŚ).
Today, I wanted to discuss storing fat. The other day, my mum asked me: Can I lose fat from my belly if I do ab exercises? WellâŚthe answer is not quite.
We donât have control over 1) where fat gets stored when we accumulate it and 2) where it goes away when we lose it. Much to my disappointment, my butt is the first one to go. The only control we have is HOW much fat we accumulate. I will not go into that because we have discussed weight loss/gain at length.
The scientific term for fat is adipose tissue. Each adipose tissue is like a balloonâdesigned to fill up with energy. A fascinating fact that has changed my whole perspective on weight gain is that our DNA is still set for a feast-and-famine scenario. These adipose cells come in handy when we feast by storing energy and releasing energy during famine.
Where these adipose cells choose to camp is down to your genetics. Be that your bum, your middle area or your thighs. Next time you are with your parents, notice their body shape and how much of it you took. I personally store fat in my cheeks, which gives me a very round face when I put weight on, my legs and arms. I am blessed with a small waste, but donât be fooled; I still have a little belly. This is the wobbly subcutaneous type of fat (the one under your skin).
How much fat you store (the amount of adipose tissue) is also partly down to your genetics and your childhood. Adipose tissue stabilises by the time you are an adult with small variations. Hence, people have different capacities for storing fat.
What happens when your storage capacity is full?
I want you to think of a typical dad bod. Men have a smaller capacity for storing fat, so the excess energy has to go somewhere. It starts being stored around organs. This type of fat (visceral fat) is quite dangerous as it's more metabolically active than the fat stored beneath our skin. It also starts interfering with the organâs job, sending our body into an alarm state.
This capacity to store fat is also why some people appear slim but have metabolic issues. They might be storing their fat around their organs rather than under their skin.
Visceral fat accumulation also has an evolutionary reason. This type of fat generates a massive energy supply when needed, far more quickly than it can be mobilised from subcutaneous fat. Due to this, it tends to be more responsive to lifestyle changes.
So, next time you look down at your body and donât like your arms, please be reminded that your family tree has passed that down to you. It made them survive, carry children, and ensure you live today. Of course, we must be mindful and not stretch those adipose cells to their limit. We control how much fat we store but not where we put it.
See you next Sunday,
Francesca
Yeo, G. (2020). Gene eating: The science of obesity and the truth about dieting. Pegasus Books.
Disclaimer: We are all unique in our ways, so this information is for educational purposes only. In my communications, I summarise research data and bring my experience. This shouldnât be viewed as medical advice at any point. Please further consult your healthcare provider about your health needs.