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KIN 355- Obesity > Biology of Obesity: Adipose Tissue Function > Flashcards

Biology of Obesity: Adipose Tissue Function Flashcards

1
Q

What determines the number of fat cells & their distribution

A

Genetics

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2
Q

When does they number of fat cells stay set?

A

In adulthood.
Can increase in number, but once developed stay forever.

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3
Q

Can you reduce they number of fat cells in your body?

A

No, you can shrink the cells but not decrease the number of them.

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4
Q

define cellulite

A

Fat deposited beneath the skin
Due to genetic deposition

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5
Q

functions of adipose tissue (7)

A
  1. cell membrane (structure/flexibility)
  2. energy production/energy reserve
  3. lipoproteins (transport & deliver)
  4. organ protection
  5. thermal regulation
  6. carrier for vitamins (ADEK)
  7. nerve insulation
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6
Q

where is fat stored

A

adipocytes, released when needed

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7
Q

how is fat stored inside of adipose

A

Triglyceride/triacylglycerol

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8
Q

What happens when energy is low

A
  • insulin drops, epinephrine rises
    -epiniphrine binds to the adipocyte and causes lipolysis
    -increase in energy demand, the fatty acids and glycerol can leave the adipocyte and enter the blood
    -uptake and oxidation in tissues (sk. muscle tissue) generate energy to meet increased demand
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9
Q

What happens after eating

A

-insulin keeps the fatty acids inside the adipocyte
-if eating frequently, and consume foods higher in carbohydrate then insulin levels stay high

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10
Q

what are the 2 types of adipose tissue

A
  1. white adipose tissue (WAT)-energy storing
  2. brown adipose tissue (BAT)- energy burning
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11
Q

amount and distribution of adipose tissue depends on what (3)

A

age, species, biological sex

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12
Q

characteristics and function of brown adipose tissue (3)

A

-many mitchocondrial (produce heat thermogenisis)
-more blood vessels (give colour)
-more metabolically active (relative to white)

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13
Q

where is BAT mainly found

A

infants, slender and younger women.
Lower amount in people with increased BMI & increased BF%

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14
Q

characteristics & function of WAT (4)

A

-actually yellow
-primary site for energy storage and release of hormones that modulate metabolism and insulin resistance
-provides cushioning & insulation
-subcutaneous and viscreal

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15
Q

characteristics & function of subcutaneous adipose tissue (SCAT) 4

A

-located just under the skin throughout the body
-represent the majority of our total body fat mass
-main source of energy
-general indication od substrate availibility for physical work. When depot becomes full fat must be stored eslewhere

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16
Q

characteristics & function of viscreal adipose tissue (VAT) 4

A

-located in and around viscreal organs
-stored fat as a result of SCAT depots being full
-genetics play a role in fat distribution patterns
-fat in this area is pro inflammatory

17
Q

how does adipose tissue regulate metabolism

A

secretes hormones that are signals percieved by the brain as important indicators of energy stores (impacts appetite, food intake, nutrient absorption & energy expenditure)

18
Q

what is caloric intake controlled by

A

appetite (hypothalamus)

19
Q

what is calorie use controlled by

A

metabolic rate (thyroid hormones/ physical activity levels)

20
Q

where are calories stored

A

adipose tissue

21
Q

what is the role of the hypothalamus

A

directs bodily functions; the brains control centre for energy balance

22
Q

define hedonic & homeostatic hunger

A

homeostatic- physical ques of hunger
hedonic- hunger from external ques (social/emotional/environmental/situational)

23
Q

define appetite, satiety & satiation

A

appetite- desire for particualr food
satiety- feeling of being full after eating
satiation- feeling satisfied after eating

24
Q

what happens during homeostatic regulation

A

-hypothalamus recieves signals from periphery
-input from GI, brain & adipokines
-output via motor neurons to GI, etc.
-this stimulates/inhibits hormone release from various areas of the body

25
Q

hormones that stimulate feeding

A

-Ghrelin- released mainly from stomach. peaks before a meal. Stimulates appetite and eating
-Glucagon- Released from pancreas when blood glucose falls, indirectly activates feeding (glucagon increases, insulisn decreases and vice versa)

26
Q

what 2 effects happen during short term regulation of food intake

A
  1. GI filling inhibits feeding
    -distended stomach, stimulates stretch receptors, vagus nerve send inhibitory signals to hypothalamus to suppress feeding centres= reduced appetite
  2. Food in mouth signals oral receptors, signals to hypothalamus= reduced appetite (less intense & shorter than GI filling)
27
Q

what hormones suppress appetite (3). Where to they secrete from and what macronutrient stimulates their release?

A
  1. Cholecystokinin(CCK): released from duodenum in response to fats & proteins. Cause hypothalamus to reduce appetite.
  2. Glucagon like peptide 1 (GLP-1): Released from lower small bowel in response to carbohydrates. Stimulates insulin release. Lowers glucagon.
  3. Insulin: Released from pancreas when blood glucose rises.
28
Q

what regulates long term regulation of food intake (2)

A
  1. Nutrients- more glucose, AA, fatty acids available= decreased appetite
  2. temperature regulation- cold= increased feeding, mediated by metabolic rate
29
Q

feedback signals of long term (intermediate) regulation of food intake

A
  • decreased blood glucose=increased appetite
    -increased blood letoacids, signals hypothalamus satiety centre increases feeling of fullness
    -adipose secretes hormones= more leptin released from adipose tisse to blood
    -leptin binds to receptors in hypothalamus to suppress appetite and food intake and decrease insulin release from pancreas
30
Q

What is leptin & its function

A

-hormone released from adipocytes
-regulates processes relevant to energy homeostasis (food intake, energy expenditure, activity, reproductive functions)
-role in defending against excessive body fat.
-extreme obesity happens when they fail to excrete leptin/don’t express the leptin receptor

31
Q

what does leptin do in short term and long term body weight regulation? (starvation & increased energy)

A

starvation: loss of body fat, adipose is critically low, decrease in leptin results in increase of food intake and decrease in EE/cessation of reproductive function & somatic growth to conserve energy

consumption: increased energy consumption and accumulation of body fat stores, leptin increases with subsequent decrease in food and increase in sympathetic NS, tone & EE

32
Q

Role of leptin in body weight regulation

A

tells the brain how much fuel in reserve
-as BMI/body weight drops so does leptin

33
Q

what happens with leptin deficency

A

Mice & Humans- hyperphagia (abnormally excessive eating- very rare in humans), obesity, impaired thermogenisis, hyperinsulinemia, hyperlipidemia. Humans also have high plasma leptin (mice do not)

34
Q

How can leptin be high in cases of obesity? (3)

A

-leptin resistence caused by hyperleptinemia
-possible that food intake is altering ability of the leptin to impact energy regulation
-possibly that leptin was designed primarily to detect periods of energy depletion (negative energy balance) rather than the other extreme.

35
Q

“can we shed weight or shed fat?”
Talk about: liposuction, ozempic (GLP-1 agonist), lifestyle change.

A
  1. liposuction- Few metabolic health gains, could help to now improve on lifestyle change. Liposuction takes away the subcutaneous fat, not viscreal fat (will make no change metaboliczally)
  2. GLP-1 agonist- will also cause muscle loss, other medication side effects to deal with, cost
  3. Lifestyle change- shrinks existing fat cells.
36
Q

can we shrink existing fat cells?

A

Yes, it is difficult because it is easy to add more to the fat cell to allow it to grow than it is to decrease the amount of fat in the cell.

37
Q

what are 2 parts to Deposition of fat & what drives the deposition process

A
  1. De Novo Lipogenesis- making of new fat cell. Occurs in adipose tissue and liver
  2. Re-Esterification- storing fat that is already made

Insulin drives the process (inhibits lipolysis)

38
Q

What are some ways to break chronically high levels of insulin (6)

A
  1. reduce amount of carbohydrates
  2. fasting/time restricted feeding
  3. fixing high cortisol levels
  4. improving sleep
  5. exercising
  6. all of the above

KIN 355- Obesity (7 decks)

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