Hibernators convert fat into heat to survive the cold season. 'Humans have also retained this ability' says IPEK scientist Alexander Bartelt who researches brown fat - and has written a book about it. You can now listen to the interview he gave on Deutschland Rundfunk with Ute Welty.
Too much body fat promotes disease. It strains the metabolism, circulation and musculoskeletal system. However, the "good" brown fat is considered to be the counterpart of the "bad" white fat. Unlike white fat, it does not store energy in the body, but can convert energy into heat.
Brown fat was discovered as early as the 16th century and initially assigned exclusively to hibernators among animals, says Alexander Bartelt.
Using body scans, brown fat has also been detected in humans, Bartelt explains. Brown fat is located primarily on the collarbone and along the spine, he says.
"Brown fat tissue is activated by cold. That means when you go for a walk or put a foot in an ice-cold bath, the skin signals that to the brain. It sends a cold stimulus, which is relayed to the brown adipose tissue. And what the cells then do: they actively start converting stored calories, but also just calories that they're getting from the rest of the body, into heat."
