A typical adult human has approximately 10 to 15 kg of adipose tissue that serves a variety of functions including energy storage, insulation (thermal and shock), and hormone production.<sup>135 Renold A.E., Cahill G.F. Adipose tissue Handbook of Physiology Washington, DC: American Physiological Society (1965). 

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti</sup> The morbidly obese human can accumulate in excess of 100 kg of adipose tissue. The majority of this change in adipose tissue weight is the consequence of lipid accretion. This dramatic accumulation of lipid is due to the highly efficient nature of lipogenesis and lipolysis in the adipocyte in response to excess energy intake.

In preparation for writing this review, more than 1200 articles were identified from the past 5 years that have examined adipose tissue metabolism. This article focuses on those reports that have assessed human adipose tissue metabolism. The relevant metabolic pathways discussed are summarized in Figure 1.