The less adipose tissue the better?

For many years adipose tissue was considered mainly as an energy store and was attributed with thermal and protective functions for internal organs. Since the discovery in 1994 of the hormone secreted by adipocytes: leptin, attention has turned to the endocrine role of adipose tissue. However, especially in the public consciousness, obesity is still treated as a “trait”, a “cosmetic defect”, a “temporary difficulty”, and not as a disease requiring evidence-based medicine (EBM). Obesity as a chronic and extremely common disease is associated with many complications and deterioration of quality of life. The deposition of adipose tissue results from concomitant factors leading to a positive energy balance. Because fat tissue cells show metabolic, hormonal, and pro-inflammatory activity, the disruption of their homeostasis causes the development of other diseases. This article will focus on the properties and health effects of excessive body fat as well as the possibility of its reduction due to pharmacotherapeutic support.