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Did you know that there is more than one type of fat and that they are not all bad?  In a recently published article, Web MD attempts to break down the various types of fat and distinguishes between those that are harmless and those that you need to be careful about.

White Fat

White fat is the fat we try so hard to lose through diet and exercise. The purpose of white fat is to store energy and produce hormones that are secreted into the bloodstream to make us less susceptible to diabetes and heart disease. However, when your weight becomes out of control, this process shuts down, opening you up to all sorts of health problems. This type of fat is more prevalent in the body than any of the others.

Brown Fat

This category of fat is more plentiful in children than adults and it is what keeps us warm in the winter. In general, lean individuals have more brown fat than overweight people. When stimulated, brown fat has the ability to burn white fat just as muscle does. Two ounces of brown fat has the power to burn 300-500 calories a day.

Subcutaneous Fat

This fat lies directly underneath the skin. It is responsible for the dimpling of your skin which is often referred to as cellulite. Skin-fold calipers are often used to measure the amount of subcutaneous fat you have when estimating your overall body fat.

Visceral Fat

Visceral fat is found deep within the body and wraps around the internal organs. It increases your risk for heart disease and diabetes. If you have a large waist or a large belly, visceral fat is to blame.

The article points out that people should recognize belly fat, which is a combination of both visceral fat and subcutaneous fat, as a serious health risk. For women, a waist circumference of more than 35 inches is problematic. Men approach the danger zone when they hit a waist circumference of more than 40 inches.

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