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Ectopic Fat Deposition

Meaning

Ectopic fat deposition describes the pathological accumulation of lipid droplets, primarily triglycerides, within the cells of non-adipose organs, such as the liver, heart, skeletal muscle, and pancreas. This misplaced fat storage is a strong independent predictor of metabolic dysfunction, notably insulin resistance and lipotoxicity, irrespective of an individual’s total body fat mass. It is a critical, high-risk manifestation of energy surplus in the body.