• Question: hello, how is fat created and is it true that when a fat cell forms it never disappears it just empties and fills?

    Asked by Lil to Sam, Richard, Majid on 14 Mar 2016.
    • Photo: Richard Sulston

      Richard Sulston answered on 14 Mar 2016:


      Fat cells (also called adipocytes) start from stem cells which have the ability of become any cell in the body. When they need to become fat cells they undergo a change which makes them no longer stem cells and start to gain fat molecules in them (pre-adipocytes). As the cell becomes more and more filled with fat it matures into a proper fat cell which is almost completely filled with fat.

      The empties and fills questions is very interesting, I had a read and it seems like fat cells do fill up and empty with fat as the balance of energy changes. Cells generally can’t live forever and have to be replace so about 10% of fat cells are replaced each year.

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