Fat partitioning control refers to the complex physiological regulation that dictates where dietary and synthesized lipids are stored within the body—either in metabolically healthy subcutaneous adipose tissue or in the more pathological visceral and ectopic fat depots. This control is heavily influenced by the endocrine system, particularly by the balance of insulin, cortisol, and sex hormones. Dysregulated fat partitioning, favoring visceral accumulation, is a primary driver of insulin resistance and cardiovascular risk.
Origin
The term arises from clinical endocrinology and metabolic research, recognizing that total body fat mass is less critical than the distribution of that fat. The discovery that visceral fat is metabolically distinct and highly active, secreting inflammatory adipokines, shifted the focus from overall obesity to the quality and location of adipose tissue storage.
Mechanism
Hormones are the primary controllers of this partitioning process. Cortisol promotes the accumulation of visceral fat through specific glucocorticoid receptors in the abdominal depot. Conversely, insulin resistance impairs the ability of subcutaneous fat cells to store lipids effectively, causing a spillover of fatty acids to ectopic sites like the liver and muscle. Maintaining a healthy balance of adipokines, such as adiponectin and leptin, is also integral to proper lipid storage and utilization.
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