this post was submitted on 04 Oct 2025
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Not sure if this is clear. Our bodies are supposed to replace all the cells every 7 or so years. Does that mean the fat too? Or when someone loses 20 year weight, are you getting rid of 20 year old fat?

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[–] mushroommunk@lemmy.today 90 points 1 day ago (3 children)

The 7 year thing is a myth. Howtown has a very good summary on it. 7 year myth some cells are replaced but how often depends on the cell type, some never get replaced.

When you gain weight your fat cells grow, and when you lose weight they shrink. You don't actually gain and lose fat cells the way people think. However, the stuff in those cells could very well be old. It's a complex system and hard to sum up and I'm only friends with the biology people from college but that's what I understand from them.

[–] TheRealKuni@piefed.social 35 points 1 day ago (4 children)

When you gain weight your fat cells grow, and when you lose weight they shrink. You don't actually gain and lose fat cells the way people think.

But as my doctor explained to me, if they get big enough, they divide. Then even if you lose weight, you have fat cells hanging around who think they should be holding onto more fat than they are. So your body will want to be fat, and will enforce that with cravings.

It’s why it’s extremely hard to lose a large amount of weight and leave it off. I’m on my third major attempt now.

[–] JandroDelSol@lemmy.world 1 points 4 hours ago

your taste bud's cravings are the the fault of America's food culture, not your body

[–] jet@hackertalks.com 2 points 10 hours ago

The weight set point theory doesn't apply to low carbohydrate eating. The abundance of fat cells does not make people doing keto fatter. It's mostly the carbohydrate insulin model of obesity. Eating food that drives insulin makes people gain weight.

The abundance of active adipocytes can drive leptin issues, and aromatase issues. But as those adipocytes get emptied, there are no longer being as metabolically active and aren't an issue. Especially on low carbohydrate diets that don't drive elevated insulin levels

[–] dylanmorgan@slrpnk.net 20 points 1 day ago (3 children)

Seems like that would be an argument for liposuction as a way to supplement other weight loss because it would remove those cells.

[–] TheRealKuni@piefed.social 8 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I’ve had the same thought. Haven’t really looked into it though.

[–] volvoxvsmarla@sopuli.xyz 18 points 1 day ago

I've studied nutrition science and we talked about what you described and yes, the blunt "truth" is that liposuction is the only reliable way to really get rid of "emptied fat cells". There are a lot of things playing into the dreaded yo yo effect but the fact that it is much easier to refill emptied cells than to make new cells via division is definitely a big factor.

("Truth" is in "" because I dislike this term in a scientific context but english is my third language and it's pretty late over here so I am struggling to find a better suited word)

Good luck on your weight loss journey. It is an incredibly hard and brave one to take and I admire that you are trying.

[–] Bubbaonthebeach@lemmy.ca 5 points 23 hours ago

I don't know much about liposuction but I believe it can only be done on subcutaneous fat (just under the skin) but not the deeper intra-abdominal fat that can be the cause of fat related health problems. If you can 'pinch' most of your fat then it is probably subcutaneous and lipo would help to remove the excess cells.

[–] Aussiemandeus@aussie.zone 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

It absolutely is. But I'm pretty sure it's expensive

[–] dylanmorgan@slrpnk.net 5 points 1 day ago

And of course health insurance wouldn’t cover it because it’s “elective”.

[–] LavaPlanet@sh.itjust.works 7 points 23 hours ago

I've heard similar, that your body wants to keep the "norm" whatever that is. And it makes sense that any extreme weight loss, would seem, to your body, that there is a famine or something is wrong and then reset the balance back to what it was, as soon as it can.

[–] DaddleDew@lemmy.world 25 points 1 day ago

That opens the door to new insults such as "You so fat your fat cells are the size of grapes"

[–] pelespirit@sh.itjust.works 14 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

the stuff in those cells could very well be old.

So, losing weight, is like taking a long needed shower for your cells.

Edit: That link is awesome. Your gut lining turns over every few days and your skin is weeks? That brings up so many more questions about the biome then.

[–] mushroommunk@lemmy.today 17 points 1 day ago (3 children)

Kind of? The cells, called adipocytes, primarily store triglycerides and a few other things in a liquid form. When you lose weight that liquid gets squeezed out and used as energy, to build other chemicals your body needs, or peed straight out.

So less a shower and more getting rung out like a sponge.

[–] roguetrick@lemmy.world 15 points 1 day ago

Most of the weight is carbon that is breathed out actually, but metabolic water isn't insignificant.

[–] pelespirit@sh.itjust.works 6 points 1 day ago

My brain has to readjust to all this, very strange.