11/17/2025
Fat is more than just an annoying connective tissue. It’s also an organ that contains nerve cells, blood vessels and communicates with other organs using hormone signals.
It stores energy, and releases it when we need it. It insulates us from cold and can generate heat. It helps cushion and protects our soft organs from trauma.
For most adults, a healthy body fat percentage is:
Women: 20–29%
Men: 12–24%
It secretes a variety of hormones and cytokines—including leptin, adiponectin, and inflammatory mediators. These factors regulate appetite, insulin sensitivity, glucose and lipid metabolism, inflammation, and even reproductive function, impacting distant organs such as the brain, liver, and muscle.
Dysregulation of adipose tissue function contributes to metabolic diseases, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Excess fat in obesity creates a chronic state of inflammation that can increase our risk of developing 13 types of cancer.
