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Body Fat Partitioning Science

Meaning

The scientific discipline focused on understanding the complex physiological and hormonal mechanisms that dictate where ingested calories, specifically lipids, are preferentially stored or mobilized within the body. This is a critical area of study because the anatomical distribution of adipose tissue, particularly the ratio of visceral to subcutaneous fat, profoundly influences metabolic health and disease risk. The science seeks to elucidate the factors that determine whether energy is directed toward metabolically benign subcutaneous stores or pathologically active visceral depots.