Bookshelf

White adipose falls under two major classifications: visceral, or surrounding organs, and subcutaneous, under the skin. Fat is distributed widely throughout the body and has different functions and growth properties depending on its location. For example, adipose surrounding sex organs can secrete sex hormones, subcutaneous fat is responsive to energy storage needs and structural fat pads on the feet have not been shown to secrete any factors of interest, nor do they show significant changes in growth. Excessive visceral or gut fat, composed of retroperitoneal fat (“behind the peritoneum”), omental fat (adipose in a sheet of connective tissue hanging as a flap originating at the stomach and draping the intestines), and mesenteric fat (adipose in the sheets of connective tissue holding the intestines in their looping structure), has been shown to be a risk factor for diabetes and cardiovascular disease.