Brown Fat and White Fat: Everything You Should Know

People commonly associate weight loss with building muscle and reducing body fat. However,  the actual complexity lies in the various types of body fat, collectively known as adipose tissue. White fat and brown fat are two types of adipose (fatty) tissue with unique functions. Despite discussions on health, fitness, and diet often focusing on body fat, many overlook the differences and implications of brown fat and white fat. This oversight arises from the misconception that fat is a uniform type or colour. In reality, each type of fat has a distinct composition and colour and functions differently in the body.

Types of Body Fat by Colour

Body fat is an umbrella term for a variety of fat cells, with colours ranging from white to brown. These various types of body fat play different roles in your body, and some may contribute to different problems. Here’s a breakdown of the primary colours of fat cells.

White Fat

White fat cells vary in size and colour, ranging from white to pale yellow. Their primary function is storing and releasing energy. White fat settles in areas like the face, midsection, thighs, and buttocks as subcutaneous or visceral fat. White fat is greasy and loosely held together by connective tissue. It acts as a protective or cushioning layer for organs.

White fat stores energy and produces adiponectin. It is a hormone that improves insulin sensitivity in the muscles and liver, lowering the risk of type 2 diabetes. However, having too much white fat can slow down adiponectin production, leading to insulin level imbalance and potential obesity. 

Too much white fat, especially around your torso,เล่น UFABET ผ่านมือถือ สะดวกทุกที่ ทุกเวลา impacts hormonal balance, causing high blood pressure, inflammation, and unhealthy cholesterol levels. It eventually contributes to metabolic disorders like type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, obesity, and heart disease. 

Yellow Fat

Yellow fat is made up of white fat cells. Unmetabolised yellow carotene from vegetables and grains in the diet settles into white fat cells, giving them a yellow tint. These yellow fat cells have the same function as regular white cells.

Brown Fat

Your body is firmer than white/yellow fat and smaller than white fat molecules. Its location changes from birth to adulthood. It typically settles in essential areas like between the shoulder blades, around the neck, kidneys, adrenal glands, heart, and chest. 

Has more mitochondria, and these mitochondria are rich in iron, providing brown fat cells with their distinctive colour. Cells also exhibit high levels of UCP1, a protein assisting mitochondria in burning calories and generating heat. 

In cold temperatures, brown fat becomes active, burning calories through a process known as thermogenesis. This process helps regulate body temperature without shivering, similar to how bears stay warm during hibernation. Additionally, brown fat is associated with improving insulin sensitivity and blood sugar metabolism.

Beige Fat or Brite Fat

Beige fat cells originate from white fat cells, but it is actually a combination of white and brown fat. This combination occurs because they undergo a browning process when exposed to low temperatures. Beige fat can perform some functions of both brown and white fat. For instance, beige fat can burn energy like brown fat, although not as efficiently. These fat cells also have the potential to protect organs.