Adipose Tissue Dysfunction
Adipose tissue dysfunction — 'sick fat' — means fat cells are no longer storing energy safely, leaking fat into the blood and driving insulin resistance and inflammation.
Plain English
Patient-Friendly Explanation
Adipose tissue dysfunction means body fat is no longer storing energy safely. When fat cells become full and stressed, fat leaks into the blood and builds up in organs like the liver and muscles. This 'sick fat' drives insulin resistance, inflammation and weight-related diseases — even in people who are not very overweight.
Medical
Clinical Definition
Adipose tissue dysfunction describes the failure of adipose tissue to buffer excess energy appropriately, characterised by adipocyte hypertrophy, impaired adipogenesis and angiogenesis, tissue hypoxia, macrophage infiltration and dysregulated adipokine secretion (increased leptin, resistin and inflammatory cytokines; reduced adiponectin). The resulting ectopic lipid deposition in liver, skeletal muscle and viscera drives lipotoxicity and insulin resistance. A subset of individuals with normal BMI exhibit adipose dysfunction (normal-weight obesity), underscoring that fat quality — not just quantity — determines cardiometabolic risk.
Key Insight
Why It Matters
Where and how your body stores fat matters more than the number on the scale. This is why we assess body composition and metabolic markers, not just weight — it tells us whether your fat tissue is healthy or 'sick'.
Sources
Reviewed against standard medical references.
Medically reviewed by
Family Physician & Registered Acupuncturist, Accord Medical Clinic. MBBS (NUS), Graduate Diploma in Family Medicine (NUS), Graduate Diploma in Acupuncture (Singapore College of TCM).
Last reviewed: September 2026
This page is general health education, not medical advice. Whether any treatment is appropriate for you is a decision made in consultation after assessment.
