Dr. Ulf Smith, Dr. Marja-Riitta Taskinen and Dr. Michael Jensen discuss issues related to body fat distribution and ectopic fat depots. Drs. Smith and Jensen describe subcutaneous adipose tissue acting as a protective reservoir as opposed to excess fat stored in the intra-abdominal (visceral) depot, in the liver, in the myocardium, or in the skeletal muscle which is harmful for health. They also cover the topic of adipocyte cell size and number in response to overfeeding. Dr. Taskinen briefly reviews the metabolic complications observed in the presence of a fatty liver such as an atherogenic dyslipidemia, an inflammatory profile and a prothrombotic state.