TAG | Size and number of fat cells important |
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| by William Atkins | |
| Tuesday, 06 May 2008 | |
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Page 2 of 3 The following headings discuss various conclusions by the Spalding team. Spalding’s team analyzed fat cells taken from thirty-five people during the medical procedures of liposuction or stomach reconstruction. These people were adults in 1955. The fat cells contained indications of radioactivity, which showed the researchers that there is turnover in fat cells within adults. Specifically, the computer models used by the team showed that about 50% of fat cells in an average adult human are replaced every eight years. Arner stated, “The total number of fat cells in the body is stable over time, because the making of new fat cells is counterbalanced by an equally rapid breakdown of the already existing fat cells.” [Bloomberg: “Fat Cells Renewed Yearly in Process That May Lead to Treatment”] Age and Numbers of Fat Cells The team also analyzed the fat cells of 687 adults in order to compare them with fat cells of children and teenagers. They found that the number of fat cells increased in numbers up to the age of twenty years. After the age of twenty years, the number of fat cells remained constant, regardless of the weight of the adult. The conclusion of the Spalding team was that children, teenagers, and young adults all grow increasing numbers of fat cells. Older adults, however, do not add fat cells so that their numbers increase overall but, instead, maintain a steady supply of fat cells. In them, about 10% of fat cells are eliminated each year. However, all of them are replaced with new fat cells. Thus, the number of fat cells is determined in childhood and they remain constant throughout adulthood Spalding states, “The fat cell number seems to be fairly set by adulthood and remarkably stable.” [Science News: “A moment on the lips...”] Size not Numbers during Weight Changes In addition, according to the team, fat cells are not eliminated when, specifically, a person loses weight. The fat cells only shrink. Thus, if weight is regained, the fat cells increase in size as more lipids are stored inside the cells. To learn about this association, the researchers looked at adults who had lost an average of eighteen percent of their total body weight. They found that the amount of lipids in the fat cells decreased significantly and that total body fat decreased greatly, too. However, the overall number of fat cells remained constant. The researchers think that when people lose an appreciable amount of weight, there is a need by the body to rapidly increase the amount of lipids in fat cells. Thus, the body triggers a hunger response to get itself to eat more food to fill that lipid deficiency. More results on the third page. Plus, information on how this study may help treat obesity. |
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