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Parts of the Body Containing Fat

Providing a source of energy when burned, fat is an important building block of the human body. Unfortunately, when too many calories are taken in and not enough are burned off to compensate, the result is the accumulation of fat on the body, and not only on its exterior. There are many places within the human body where fat can accumulate.

  1. Storage of Good Fats

    • Good fats, also known as essential fats, allow the human body to function normally on a daily basis. For women, these good fats are used to assist in childbearing and other hormonal issues. Essential fats are stored in the liver and kidneys, the intestines, muscle and bone marrow, and in the heart and lungs.

    Tissue Fats

    • Fats also accumulate in special connective tissue of the human body known as adipose tissue. Fats stored here assist in the body's use of energy as well as provide heating insulation, with the amount of insulation determined by the thickness of the fat layer.

    Storage of Subcutaneous Fat

    • Subcutaneous fat, which is located below the skin, is stored in pockets around the human body. Around the stomach is the most common location where this fat can be found. Other areas of subcutaneous fat storage are the face, arms, legs, hands, feet and rear end. In children and adults, subcutaneous fat can lead to other health problems if not decreased with diet and exercise.

    Storage of Visceral Fat

    • Visceral fat is the most dangerous as it is stored around the internal organs. Excessive amounts of visceral fat can trigger hormones and other chemicals in the body to generate conditions such as cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and colorectal or breast cancer. Unlike subcutaneous fat, visceral fat cannot be easily decreased by diet or exercise.

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