This video presents a discussion on ectopic fat depots by three experts in this area, Dr. Ulf Smith from Sweden, Dr. Marja-Riitta Taskinen from Finland and Dr. Michael Jensen from United States. Dr. Smith introduces the notion of ectopic fat by raising the issue that BMI is not the best measurement to assess individual risk for cardiometabolic disorders and that waist circumference is a very important marker to add to other clinical measurements. Dr. Taskinen explains that the liver is a very central organ because of its importance in the metabolism of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins. An imbalance in lipid metabolism may cause fatty liver and an atherogenic dyslipidemia. Moreover, she explains that in addition to fat accumulation in the liver and in visceral depots, lipids can also accumulate around the heart. Dr. Jensen recalls that some individuals are able to expand their fat depot and remain healthy, while others with the same amount or even less adipose tissue expansion have extremely abnormal functions. In this case, when adipose tissue cannot properly store lipids, the excess energy ends up in the liver, the heart and the muscle cells. Several mechanisms are proposed by Dr. Jensen to explain this situation. Finally, the important and positive role that could be played by the exercising skeletal muscle in ectopic fat mobilization is also discussed.
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