Are Regular Fat and Skinny Fat the Same Thing?

The popular spiel online and on social media, including too many medical professionals, claims that regular white/yellow fat (1, 2) and skinny fat (3) are the same thing. Yet, the Standard BMI definition (4) clearly states that once a person is inside safe BMI — 18.5 to 24.99 — they no longer have too much/any excess regular white/yellow body fat (5, 6). The scientific/medical definition (7) of skinny fat (AKA normal weight obesity) is having too much fat on your body when within safe BMI — but it cannot be and is not too much/excess regular white/yellow fat (body fat).

You can technically lose 100% of your regular fat but your skinny fat (thin fat, cellulite) will remain. Just ask 80%+ of the women (8) and less than 10% of men (8) worldwide who are experiencing cellulite skinny fat. There is no scientifically documented evidence that a single one of them — 0% — has ever gotten rid of it. No matter how much regular fat they lose, how much muscle mass they add, or how many FDA-approved ways they pay for, they cannot permanently get rid of their cellulite. They can only reduce it.

Kinds of Human Body Fat – Are Regular Fat and Skinny Fat the Same Thing?

The kinds of fat (1, 2, 3) that are found in the human body are:

Regular White Fat/Yellow Fat Tissue (Body Fat/Adipose Tissue) – the most common and abundant fat in the human body is white fat. It is widespread across the body and can be found almost anywhere, but is typically most common on the chest, abdomen, and legs. White fat can look yellow because humans can’t properly metabolize yellow carotene in vegetables and grains, which migrates to and settles in our white fat cells. Visceral fat and subcutaneous fat (9, 10, 11) are typically white fat, as is ectopic fat (organs, nerves, bone marrow, skeletal muscle, etc.)(12, 13, 14, 15) including intramuscular fat (16, 17, 18). Body fat percentage (%) is regular fat (it does not include skinny fat tissue).

Brown Fat Tissue – most abundant in newborn babies (19, 20), with small amounts remaining into adulthood, brown fat is significantly less abundant than white/yellow fat. It is typically found around the upper back, shoulders, and neck and positively affects body temperature regulation and metabolism. In certain situations, white fat tissue can turn (21, 22) into brown fat tissue. Visceral fat and subcutaneous fat can be brown fat (23).

Beige Fat Tissue – a combination of white fat cells and brown fat cells. Like brown fat tissue, this tissue positively affects metabolism by burning calories to regulate body temperature via converting white fat to brown fat. White fat tissue can turn (24) into beige fat tissue under certain instances. Visceral fat and subcutaneous fat can be beige fat (25).

Skinny Fat Tissue (3) – the newest type, we are still technically uncertain what kind of tissue — thin fat and cellulite — skinny fat really is. We know it is not muscle tissue. We know it is not white/yellow, brown, or beige fat tissue. But we are certain it exists, as a person can lose all of their regular white/yellow fat yet their skinny fat will remain. Skinny fat tissue is not included in body fat % calculations.

What Tissue is What?

There is no scientific evidence at this time that white/yellow, brown, or beige fat can turn into skinny fat, or vice versa. It is also unclear whether thin fat can become cellulite, although this is likely the case, as it would explain why some people notice more cellulite as they age.

Skinny fat (thin fat tissue, cellulite tissue) is only subcutaneous — it is NOT visceral fat (26, 27, 28, 29), which is considered more dangerous. Although, it is very possible to be experiencing subcutaneous skinny fat tissue on the abdomen along with too much visceral regular white/yellow fat at the same time.

What Type of Fat Causes Regular Obesity?

The scientific/medical definition (5, 30) of being overweight (BMI 25 to 29.99) or obese (BMI 30+) is having excess/too much regular white fat/yellow body fat. Regular obesity (BMI 30+) and normal weight obesity (BMI 18.5 to 24.99)) are not the same; they are two very different things. Only regular white fat causes a person to be overweight or regular obese.

Whereas, brown fat and beige fat positively affect and help mitigate obesity (31, 30) and being overweight by improving metabolism (32) and burning more calories.

If you are experiencing skinny fat (3) where you genetically should have default genetic muscle/mass, anywhere you have skinny fat tissue you are more prone to putting on regular white/yellow fat and being overweight or regular obese. And the harder it can be to lose regular fat weight and keep it off. You will have to be more diligent with your diet, exercise, and lifestyle throughout your life. Skinny fat can exist at any BMI, although being normal weight obese (NWO) can only occur when you are within safe BMI.

Are Regular Fat and Skinny Fat the Same Thing?

The latest science is clear that, no, regular white/yellow fat and skinny fat are not the same thing. They are two different things; two different types of genetic tissue. Losing regular fat can help reduce skinny fat, but it does not permanently get rid of it.

No amount of resistance exercise, including weightlifting, and no amount of protein magically gets rid of or turns skinny fat tissue into muscle tissue. This is not how human tissue works (33, 34, 35).

Just as a poor diet or any type of exercise (like cardio) does not cause skinny fat. Skinny fat is unique genetic tissue that can only be reduced by safely losing regular fat, adding muscle mass, or paying for a few FDA-approved ways.

How Skinny Fat Affects Regular Fat Weight Loss & Gain

References

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