The research results were presented at the 31st European Congress on Obesity (ECO2024) in Venice, Italy. They suggest that the larger the size of fat cells, the easier it is to reduce weight, BMI, and body fat.
At the congress, the research team highlighted a clear link between fat cell size and weight loss by studying the abdominal fat of 260 participants over a 15-year period. They measured the volume, number of fat cells, and participants’ weight, BMI, and body fat changes. The average participant was 44 years old with a BMI of 32. To enhance the study’s accuracy, individuals on anti-obesity medication or who had undergone obesity surgery were not included.
The results demonstrated that weight, BMI, and body fat decreased when the size and number of fat cells were large. However, when the size and number of fat cells were small, weight, BMI, and body fat increased regardless of obesity. The correlation between the volume of fat cells and changes in weight, BMI, and body fat remained significant even after considering age, physical activity, observation period, and gender.
The team suggested that individuals with smaller fat cells may be more likely to gain weight but may be healthier than those with larger fat cells, as their metabolism functions better.
They explained that even if weight increases due to smaller fat cells, the risk of type 2 diabetes and hypertension will not increase as much as when the fat cells are large.
Further supporting these findings, a 2022 study published in The Journal of Physiology observed 36 obese men who undertook 12 weeks of exercise while maintaining their diet to prevent weight loss. The study showed a decrease in the size of their fat cells and a reduction in inflammation, pointing to healthier fat cells due to exercise.
According to the research team, healthier fat tissue consumes more calories, which could explain why individuals with smaller fat cells might gain weight more easily. They also noted that exercise not only aids muscle gain but also reduces the size of fat cells, thereby promoting healthier cells. The team concluded that knowing an individual’s fat cell size could be crucial for effective weight management, emphasizing that fat cell size significantly impacts long-term weight fluctuations.
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