Why your body fat plays a much bigger role than you might think

Most people think of body fat as simply stored energy — something we want to get rid of. But in reality, fat cells (called adipocytes) are much more than that. Thanks to the work of researchers like Professor Ben Bikman, we now know that fat tissue is actually a key part of our endocrine system — the system in the body that produces and sends out hormones.

In fact, fat cells produce over 50 hormones and other chemical messengers that affect everything from hunger and inflammation to fertility and blood sugar control. This means your fat isn’t just sitting there — it’s constantly communicating with your brain, liver, muscles, and other organs.

Take leptin, for example. This hormone is made by fat cells and tells your brain when you’re full. But when we carry too much body fat — especially around the belly — the body can become resistant to leptin, meaning your brain no longer gets the signal to stop eating.

Another hormone, adiponectin, helps improve how your body responds to insulin and reduces inflammation. Ironically, people with more body fat tend to have less adiponectin, which puts them at higher risk for conditions like type 2 diabetes.

Fat cells also release inflammatory chemicals (like TNF-α and IL-6) that can cause low-grade, ongoing inflammation throughout the body. This kind of inflammation can damage cells and raise the risk of chronic diseases.

It’s also important to understand that not all fat is the same. Subcutaneous fat — the kind just under the skin — is usually less harmful. But visceral fat — the fat around your internal organs — is much more active and dangerous. It’s more likely to interfere with hormone balance, release excess fatty acids into your blood, and damage organs like the liver and pancreas.

When fat cells grow too large (a process called hypertrophy), they stop working properly. They become insulin-resistant, leak fat into the bloodstream, and release more harmful hormones — creating a cycle that leads to more weight gain and health problems.

So, fat isn’t just about how we look, or what size jeans we’re wearing — it’s intricately involved in how our body functions. Keeping our fat cells healthy with the right food, movement, and lifestyle choices is a key step in protecting our long-term health.