Many people associate fat tissue with obesity and disease, but fat tissue also plays an important role in the body.
It stores energy, produces hormones, and helps regulate metabolism.
For this reason, both too much and too little healthy fat tissue can cause problems, according to Michigan Medicine at the University of Michigan, as cited by ScienceDaily.
Researchers examined unhealthy fat cells
A new study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation examined tissue samples from people with the rare condition familial partial lipodystrophy type 2, as well as mice with the same genetic mutation.
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The disease causes a loss of fat beneath the skin.
The researchers found that the fat cells lost their ability to store fat while also developing an inflammation-like state.
The cells' energy-producing structures, known as mitochondria, also functioned less efficiently, making the fat cells less healthy.
May lead to disease
The researchers conclude that the body needs healthy fat cells to maintain normal metabolism.
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When fat cells disappear, it becomes more difficult for the body to process fats and regulate the hormones that control metabolism.
This may increase the risk of both diabetes and fatty liver disease, even though these conditions are often associated with obesity.
The researchers therefore hope that these findings could lead to treatments that protect fat tissue before it becomes damaged.
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