[Asherdoodles87]

Originally Posted by niafabo

Sorry to tell you this but you're wrong. Your body stops producing fat cells after puberty. The volume of those fat cells will be affected by weight loss and weight gain but the actual number of fat cells remains constant. o.O

here are a few links:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7378349.stm
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/107043.php
http://www.nature.com/news/2008/0505....2008.800.html

Originally Posted by Altari

I'm fairly certain women add fat cells during gestation. I'll edit when I find the elusive article I just read on the topic...

I just wanted to add something about the fat cells increase. Yes, in addition, fat cells can be created if the body is pushed far enough and needs more storage. This doesn't happen in a healthy body, but the cells can increase in number if the body is pushed to that point. I have had several nutrition classes, and it was discussed.

And, I am glad to see so many chiming in about there not being a starvation mode. I HATE when people claim there is some secret starvation point. The dietitian at the health department told my sister to make sure to eat snack in between meals or her body would hit a starvation mode and she would gain weight. I had to explain over and over to my sister that skipping one snack or meal won't make you "starve."

[xXLosingItXx]

I have to agree, I have to thank everyone for clearing that up, because even in Nutrition class, back in highschool, my teacher told us the same. It freaked a lot of us out, especially me.

I like eating 3 meals a day, 5 meals a day just doesn't work for me, I've tried it and I usually get sick :S

[DeSincere]

Originally Posted by mkendrick

Another thing I thought I'd add, since it puts an interesting perspective on dieting that many people aren't aware of.

A person is born with exactly as many muscle cells as they will ever have. When body builders (or anybody) work out and lift, those muscle cells get larger but they do not increase in number. They decrease in size when they are not being used.

Fat cells, on the other hand, increase in size AND in number to store excess fat. And here's the kicker, once they are created, they NEVER go away. You are born with a certain number of fat cells in your body. As you gain weight and store more fat, those fat cells get bigger and eventually more cells are made to store more fat. When you lose weight, the fat cells get smaller, but even the ones that had been created never go away.

This is one reason why it's so much easier for people to regain weight. Yo-yo dieters who were very overweight, lost the weight, and fall off the wagon will likely find that they regain the weight much faster and easier than when they initially put it on. That's not because they ruined their metabolism with previous diets, it's because they already have the infrastructure, the fat cells, to store fat much more easily.

Interesting point you've made. Never looked at it that way. Fat cells are certainly an enemy in my book. I recently got rid of my baby fat and determine to keep it off forever. Now i can add this information on fat cells to my food selections. Thanks.