There Are Six Types Of Body Fat & Here Is What You Need To Know About Them

There are various types of body fat that require a different approach to reduce them. Some are healthy and some are not. Read to know about the different types of body fat.

By Sravia Sivaram

Friday, August 18, 2017, 17:05

Fad diets and catchy headlines may make you believe so many things that are not true. Not all fat is the same.

Body fat is of different types. And you need to start treating it that way. Further, you must also get rid of the thought that fat is bad.

It will be worth big time if you take a few minutes of your time to go through this article. Here, we have shared the expert approach of what you need to know about the fat on your frame, especially if you're trying to lose weight and get healthy.

We have adipose tissue all over the body and this tissue is made up of fat cells or adipocytes and the job of these cells is to store energy in the form of fat. This article will let you know the different types of body fat and how to get rid of it.

Body fat distribution differs from person to person. There are generally two types of fat storage, namely visceral and subcutaneous fat.

When it comes to losing fat, spot reduction rarely works. Either fat is melted from the entire body or is not reduced at all.

In this article, we have mentioned the different types of body fat that you need to be aware of. Read to know what are the various types of body fat and how to lose it.

1. Essential Fat:

Essential fat is the fat that you need to live in. It helps regulate body temperature, in vitamin absorption, in maintaining the cell structure and regulating hormones like the fertility hormones. You need to know that you cannot lose essential fat without compromising your health in a big way. Hence, it is recommended not to lose this fat.

2. White Fat:

Also known as white adipocytes, these fat cells are white in colour. This is due to low density of mitochondria and blood vessels. These white fat cells boost the levels of feel-full hormone leptin. This is one of the different types of body fat.

But when the body is faced with high levels of leptin, the high levels of excess white fat can make you less sensitive to leptin's effect. This can trigger hunger and (white) fat gain.

3. Brown Fat:

Brown fat burns and does not store energy. It has energy-burning capabilities and its brown colour is due to the fact that it's packed with mitochondria. If you increase the activity of your body's existing brown fat, then you can boost your ability to burn calories from white fat.

4. Beige Fat:

Beige fat is a cross between white and brown fat. The hormones that are released when you're either cold or stressed will kick-start the process of converting white into beige fat. During exercise, your muscles secrete specialized protein that helps turn white fat into beige.

5. Subcutaneous Fat:

This is the layer of fat that is found beneath the skin. About 90% of the fat in the body is in the form of subcutaneous fat. In terms of lowering your levels of this, it's all about calories in versus calories out. Cutting down on refined carbs and empty calories, performing high-intensity exercises on a regular basis, etc., is how you can lose this fat.

6. Visceral Fat:

This fat is the fat that is stored in the abdominal cavity around a number of organs like the liver, pancreas, heart, intestines, etc., rather than right under the skin. Visceral fat is known to increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, stroke, etc. Strength exercise, sleep and regular exercise help in preventing this age-related visceral belly fat.