The Different Colors, Locations of Body Fat + How They Impact Your Health

What exactly is "body fat"? Unlike fats you might find in your food, body fat is often described as stored energy in the body.

However, body fat, which is also called adipose tissue, plays a much larger role in how your body functions than simply storing energy that you then "burn" off throughout your day.

What is Adipose Tissue?

Adipose tissue is actually considered to be one of the body’s organs and plays a key role in the endocrine system. Research has shown that this highly flexible connective tissue helps regulate a number of important bodily functions that include regulating energy levels, body temperature and immune responses.

Adipose tissue gets its name from the presence of cells called adipocytes, which are the primary energy reservoir for your body. Because of the high plasticity of adipose tissue, when your body undergoes certain physiological changes, the tissue expands either due to the increase in adipocyte size or the number of cells.

Different Types of Adipose Tissue

There are three distinct types of adipose tissue that are characterized by their color: white, brown and beige:

White Fat

This is the energy-storing type of adipose tissue that contains excess calories to be used as energy when the body needs it. This type of adipose tissue also helps your body absorb different types of vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E and K. As the main type of fat in the body, white adipose tissue also helps in regulating certain hormones like insulin and leptin, which helps signal to your body that you are full during eating.

White fat can also help maintain your body temperature as well as provide a protective layer of tissue around muscles and bones. It is an essential part of your health, so having too little can harm your wellness. However, too much white adipose tissue can cause health conditions like obesity.

Brown Fat

Due to its iron-rich cells, this type of adipose tissue appears brown. Located primarily in the neck, shoulders and upper back, its main function is to store and burn energy to help regulate your body temperature. You will mostly activate this type of fat through physical activity or exposure to low temperatures. There is a relatively small amount of brown adipose tissue in adults because there are other means for us to produce heat, like through shivering or through white adipose tissue.

Beige Fat

When brown adipose tissue and white adipose tissue combine, the result is beige adipose tissue. Researchers are still uncertain where beige adipocytes come from, but some possible causes include cold exposure, exercise, severe burns and certain pharmaceutical and dietary components. Similar to brown adipose tissue, beige fat burns energy primarily to produce heat for the body.

Locations of Fat

The two primary locations for fat within the body are described by experts as subcutaneous and visceral.

• Subcutaneous: Located just below the skin, subcutaneous adipose tissue is generally what you might think of when you think of body fat.
• Visceral: This is the type of adipose tissue that surrounds organs and may not impact your appearance.

Both subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue can negatively affect your health if there is too much or too little. Experts say that visceral fat is more closely related to higher morbidity than subcutaneous fat, but they can impact your metabolic health, overall mortality, insulin sensitivity and diabetes risk.

Managing Your Adipose Tissue

There are countless resources to help us manage our weight and burn body fat. To find out what amount of adipose tissue is right for your body and lifestyle, talk to your primary care provider. They can help you learn where you are and discuss ways to achieve and maintain a healthy weight, whether its developing a healthy diet plan or starting a new exercise routine.