ABSTRACT
Body fat, or adipose tissue, was long considered merely a filler tissue. It has been studied for its involvement in metabolic diseases such as diabetes and obesity. In the course of the past decade, it has evolved in status from being regarded as a simple energy reservoir to being considered as an endocrine and secretory tissue, and it is these characteristics that make it appear likely to play a role in many of the body’s physiological responses, including the inflammatory response.
