Even though it sounds like the fat cell (also known as an adipocyte) would “move into the muscle cell to be burned” when you “lose” body fat, it doesn’t. Unfortunately, the fat cell stays where it is: under the skin in your legs, stomach, hips, arms, and other places, and on top of your muscles. This is why you can’t see the “definition” of your muscles when your body fat is high.
The fat cell contains triacylglycerol, which is stored as fat. Fat is not immediately consumed within the fat cell; rather, it must be released via hormonal and biochemical pathways that are somewhat complex. When prompted, the fat cell simply lets go of its triacylglycerol and sends it into the bloodstream as free fatty acids (FFAs). These FFAs are then carried by the blood to the tissues that need energy.
Approximately sixty thousand to one hundred thousand calories of energy are stored in the fat cells of a typical young male adult. What makes all of these stored fatty acids come out of the fat cell? Simple: An energy shortage means that you are taking in fewer calories than you burn. When this happens, your body releases hormones and enzymes that tell your fat cells to release their fat stores instead of storing them.
Hydrolysis, also known as lipolysis or fat breakdown, breaks down the molecule of triacylglycerol into glycerol and three fatty acids. This lets the stored fat leave the fat cell. This process starts with hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), which is a very important enzyme. FFAs are released into the bloodstream from stored fat, which is used as energy. They are then sent to the muscles, that need them. More FFAs get to the muscles that need them when blood flow to the busy muscles goes up.
The FFAs are subsequently transported to the muscle cell’s mitochondria, where they are consumed for energy. Oxidation is the word for this. Do keep in mind that oxidation (burning fat inside cells) and lipolysis (releasing fat from cells) are two different processes. Anyone who has ever attended a biology lesson has likely heard of mitochondria. This is the “cellular powerhouse” where energy is made and where the FFAs are burned for power.
Fat cells get smaller when FFAs are released from them. This is why you look leaner when you lose body fat: the fat cells are now smaller. You want fat cells that are small or “empty” if you want to look lean and lean.
It was formerly thought that only the size of these cells could grow (or decrease) beyond adulthood, not the quantity of fat cells. We now know that fat cells can get bigger (fat cell growth) and more of them (cell hyperplasia).
They are also more likely to get more of them at certain times and in certain situations, like
1) In late adolescence and the early stages of puberty
2) When you are pregnant
3) During adulthood, when excessive weight is obtained
Certain genes make some people more likely to have fat cells than others, and women have more than men. Most babies have between 5 and 6 billion fat cells. This number goes up during early childhood and puberty. An adult who is healthy and has a normal body makeup has between 25 and 30 billion fat cells. There are about 75 billion fat cells in a normal-weight adult. But this number can go as high as 250 to 300 billion if the person is very overweight.
Most adult cells are about 0.6 micrograms in size, but they can be as small as 0.2 micrograms or as big as 0.9 micrograms. The cells of someone who is overweight can be up to three times bigger than those of someone whose body is in good shape.
Keep in mind that body fat is mostly just a store of energy, and fat cells are like storage tanks. The size of a gas tank in your car stays the same, but the size of fat cells changes based on how “full” they are.
Think of a bubble that isn’t inflated: When it’s not full of air, it’s very small—maybe the size of your thumb. It can grow 10 or 12 times its regular size when you blow it up with air. It just fills up. In this case, fat cells do this: When you are lean, your cells are almost empty “tanks” for fat storage. When you eat more calories than you burn, your fat cells “fill up” and “stretch out” like balloons filled with jelly (not a pretty picture, is it?)
You “empty out” or “shrink” fat cells, not “lose” them.
Important lessons to remember at home:
1- It’s important to keep track of the calories you consume
An energy deficit tells your body to release fat from fat cells; you need to burn more calories than you eat.
2 – Take immediate action if you see that your weight is increasing
If you are adding weight, especially if it is getting out of hand, you need to put an end to it right away. The growth of new cells in your body could be making it harder to reach your goal weight in the future. It’s time now!
The most important thing is to stop adding weight, even if you don’t go backwards and start losing fat weight. Remind yourself that not getting something is sometimes a win.
3 – Once you’ve lost weight, you have to keep working hard
There are still fat cells in your body; they have just “shrunk” or “emptied out.” Fitness isn’t a 12-week plan; it’s a way of life. If you want to stay slim, you should eat mostly whole, nutrient-dense foods and stay as busy as you can. Being physically active a lot is very important for keeping off the weight in the long run.
4 – While heredity does play a role, it is a modest one
You may not be able to change how many fat cells you were born with, but you can change how much fat you store by changing your lifestyle, how much you exercise, what you eat, and how you think.
