Weight loss for men is no longer a new topic, and many male friends have joined the ranks of weight loss in winter. But do you really need to lose fat to lose weight? In fact, there is a type of fat that can benefit us in losing weight without any harm. Let’s take a look at where this magical fat is located.
When fat meets fat, you don’t get fatter but thinner – this is the latest discovery from Ohio State University in the United States. If you are trying to lose weight by reducing the intake of fat, you might be wrong.
Discovery from Ohio State University: when fat meets fat, you don’t get fatter but thinner. If you are trying to lose weight by reducing the fat intake, you might be wrong.
In fact, there are two different types of fat in the human body: white fat and brown fat. White fat is commonly known as “fat,” while brown fat is where your energy is stored. So obviously, we should increase brown fat and try to reduce white fat.
In experiments, researchers injected brown fat cells into mice, and this substance can convert the white fat in the mice into brown fat and burn fat. Not only did it not make the mice gain weight, but it actually made them lose 20% of weight.
If you are worried about your weight, this information should help you better target your weight loss diet.
Distribution of brown fat
There is very little brown fat tissue in adults, but it is more abundant in newborns and hibernating animals. In newborns, brown fat is mainly distributed in the interscapular region, armpits, and back of the neck.
Brown fat tissue only plays a role in human infants. They accumulate in the scapula of newborns to help regulate body temperature. As people age, brown fat gradually disappears. Eventually, only a small amount of brown fat cells remain in the body, mainly located in the neck.
Fat and Obesity
(1) Fat
Fats are collectively referred to as oils, fats, and lipids. The fats in food are mainly oil and fat, with liquids at room temperature called oil and solids called fat. Fats mainly contain the chemical elements C, H, O, and sometimes N, P, and other elements. Fats are composed of glycerol and fatty acids, forming triglycerides, with the glycerol molecule being simple while the types and lengths of fatty acids vary. Fatty acids are divided into three main categories: saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Fats dissolve in most organic solvents but not in water.
(2) Obesity
Obesity is a condition where excessive fat, especially triglycerides, accumulates in the body. It is usually caused by excessive food intake or changes in the body’s metabolism leading to excessive fat accumulation, resulting in excessive weight gain and causing physiological and pathological changes in the body. Body mass index (BMI) is calculated by dividing the weight (kg) by the square of the height (m) and is used as an index to assess the degree of obesity. In Europe and America, a BMI>= 25 kg/m2 is considered overweight, and a BMI>= 30 kg/m2 is considered obese. In the Asia-Pacific region, people can be classified based on their BMI as follows: healthy 18.5-22.9 kg/m2; overweight 23-24.9 kg/m2; grade 1 obesity 25-29.9 kg/m2; grade 2 obesity 30-34.9 kg/m2; grade…
Obesity in children can cause hypertension (with an incidence rate of 25-55% among the obese), diabetes (with an incidence rate of 14-20% among the obese), coronary heart disease (with an incidence rate of 10-15% among the obese), hyperlipidemia (with an incidence rate of 35-53% among the obese), sleep apnea (with an incidence rate of 10-20% among the obese), depression (with an incidence rate of 70-90% among the obese), among others including tumors, infertility, and stones, which are directly related to the lifespan and quality of life. Especially when obesity reaches a morbid stage (BMI over 40), the mortality rate significantly increases. Obesity and related diseases are increasingly being emphasized, and with scientific and technological progress, there have been significant advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of obesity.
Main Functions
(1) Weight Loss Function
The main function of brown fat tissue is that under cold stimulation, the fats in brown fat cells break down and oxidize to release a large amount of heat energy without converting to chemical energy. This function is regulated by the sympathetic nervous system.
Fats are usually seen as the “culprit” of obesity. In fact, fats are divided into…
Healthy adults have functional brown fat tissues that are of the same type and cannot be generalized. “Brown fat” not only does not cause obesity but also has slimming effects.
White fat accumulates under the skin, responsible for storing excess heat; brown fat breaks down the white fat that causes obesity, converting the latter into carbon dioxide, water, and heat. It can speed up the body’s metabolism, promote the consumption of white fat, and thus reduce fat to achieve weight loss.
The amount of brown fat remaining in adult bodies varies from person to person. This is why some people can maintain a slender figure effortlessly while indulging in food, while others struggle to lose weight despite constant efforts.
(2) Cold Stimulation
However, according to research, the vitality of brown fat requires cold stimulation.
Although adults have some remaining brown fat in their bodies, this “beneficial” fat can only be activated and exhibit weight loss effects through cold stimulation.
Researchers at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden put 5 volunteers in a cool environment for 2 hours, then intermittently immersed one foot in ice water. Positron emission tomography (PET) scans showed that each time the body temperature dropped, the volunteers’ brown fat tissues began to work.
However, the study also found that the brown fat tissues in some obese individuals are not stimulated by cold. Scientists are now trying to use drugs to stimulate their activity.
Mike Cawthorn, responsible for metabolism research at the University of Buckingham in the UK, said that using drugs to stimulate brown fat activity is worth a try. Another method to lose weight using brown fat is by injecting brown fat into the body. Scientists cultivate brown fat tissues in the laboratory or use mice to produce “beneficial” fats.
In fact, losing weight using brown fat is not difficult.
Cawthorn says that global warming, overeating, and reduced physical activity are causing brown fat to lose its activity. “30 years ago, people were much cooler than they are now… today, it’s warm almost everywhere – at home, in the car, at work, in stores.”
He urges people to turn off their heating systems and says, “If people expose themselves more frequently to cooler environments, more people can successfully lose weight… or you can finish a sauna session and jump into ice water. In winter, don’t use air conditioning in the car, and spend more time outdoors. With these simple methods, people can actively engage brown fat.”
Alternative Weight Loss Slogans
Men either adhere to exercise, take out their wallets to buy weight loss pills, or resist food temptations. Even among these men, journalists have found some new slogans about weight loss.
Slogan 1: Losing Weight to “Meet the Parents”
Xiao Li is visiting his girlfriend’s family this Spring Festival, and this matter is critical to whether he can marry the girl of his dreams. Uncertain about passing this test, he decided to change his appearance first. Although he has always believed that “inner beauty is more important than appearance,” the slightly bulging belly that he has has been bothering him, and trying to lose his belly has become a recent agenda item.
Feasting has become a common occurrence, work pressure has eaten into leisure time, and a rich diet has created a growing population of obese individuals, with beer bellies becoming a characteristic of most men, even young men cannot escape this “curse.” As the end of the year approaches, preparing to visit the prospective in-laws with a protruding belly may lower the image of many men.
Slogan 2: Elegance in the Cold
In winter, Chen Yang is definitely a sight among classmates and friends;…He says he has always stuck to exercising and has never had any excess fat on his body, and he has rarely been visited by illness in winter.
The tough guy image of a man keeps many men away from the winter bloated appearance. Even on the coldest days, a simple outfit is sufficient – it requires strong physical fitness and persistence in exercise for a long time. Losing weight does help to remove excess fat from the body to some extent, even if they are not consciously seeking to lose weight, they might just be saying goodbye to puffiness with elegance in the winter.
Slogan 3: Weight Loss is also Savings
Plans do not keep up with changes, and Wang Hao, who works in a foreign-funded enterprise, although earning a decent income, is a member of the “saving tribe,” also joining an online club that emphasizes “saving first” in life. In order to maintain his slim figure, he not only adopts dieting but also frequently participates in various outdoor events. In his words, a slender person is more economical.
Many men’s clothing purchases fail to keep up with changes in body shape – men’s wardrobes are quite valuable, and maintaining a moderate body shape also saves on clothing expenses, while steadily expanding body size is also a challenge to appetite. Staying away from snacks, staying away from fat, and reducing spending on obesity-related medical examinations. The new frugality doctrine is related to weight loss.
In summary: Through our introduction above, we have learned that there is such a miraculous fat that can help with weight loss. Weight loss requires perseverance, and if we fundamentally change our physique, weight loss naturally follows.
