Howstuffworks "How Fat Cells Work

Inside This Article

1. Introduction to How Fat Cells Work

2. Body Fat Basics

3. Fat Storage

 

The difference in fat location comes from the sex hormones estrogen and testosterone. Fat cells are formed in the developing fetus during the third trimester of pregnancy, and later at the onset of puberty, when the sex hormones "kick in." It is during puberty that the differences in fat distribution between men and women begin to take form. One amazing fact is that fat cells generally do not generate after puberty -- as your body stores more fat, the number of fat cells remains the same. Each fat cell simply gets bigger!

 

Howstuffworks "How Fat Cells Work