Not All Belly Fat Is the Same, Study Reveals
Fat surrounding the colon is not just passive body fat; it may actively communicate with the immune system, according to new research from Karolinska Institutet and international collaborators. Scientists have discovered that this specific type of abdominal fat contains a high number of inflammatory fat cells and immune cells, suggesting it has a unique role in gut health and inflammation.
This discovery is gaining attention because it challenges the long-held belief that all abdominal fat behaves the same way. Instead, the study shows that fat surrounding the colon may be specially designed to interact with the immune system in the gut.
Not All Abdominal Fat Is the Same
Abdominal fat is made up of several distinct compartments, known as fat depots. In this study, researchers closely examined five different abdominal fat depots in people with severe obesity.
What stood out most was the epiploic fat, the fat tissue that sits directly along the large intestine. Unlike other fat stores, this tissue was rich in:
- Fat cells are associated with inflammation
- A large number of immune cells
This combination suggests that fat surrounding the colon is biologically active and not simply an energy reserve.
How Gut Bacteria Trigger Immune Signals
To better understand how this tissue behaves, researchers conducted laboratory experiments. They found that bacterial signals similar to those produced by gut microbes can stimulate fat cells in this region to release proteins that activate nearby immune cells.
In simple terms, fat surrounding the colon appears to “listen” to signals from gut bacteria and then “talk back” to the immune system. This two-way communication may help the body respond quickly to harmful microbes, but could also contribute to chronic inflammation.
An Adaptation to the Gut Microbiome?
The gut microbiome consists of trillions of bacteria. These microbes constantly release substances that can trigger inflammation.
Researchers believe that fat surrounding the colon may have evolved as a protective adaptation acting as a local immune hub that helps manage these bacterial signals. However, when this system becomes overactive, it may fuel ongoing inflammation instead of controlling it.
What This Means for Digestive Diseases
Because the study focused on individuals with obesity, scientists caution that the findings may not apply to people of normal weight. At this stage, there are also no direct clinical applications.
That said, the results open new doors for understanding inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Since fat surrounding the colon contains both immune cells and inflammatory fat cells, researchers now want to explore whether this tissue helps worsen or prolong intestinal inflammation.
Conclusion
This study reinforces an important message: fat tissue is an active organ that sends signals throughout the body. Recognising that fat surrounding the colon has a specialised immune function could change how scientists think about obesity, gut health, and chronic inflammatory diseases.
Future research will focus on whether targeting this specific fat depot could help reduce harmful inflammation and improve outcomes for people with digestive and metabolic conditions.
Fat surrounding the colon is biologically active, closely linked to immune responses, and may play a significant role in gut-related inflammation, highlighting a new and important area of medical research.
Source:Â Inputs from various media SourcesÂ
I’m a pharmacist with a strong background in health sciences. I hold a BSc from Delhi University and a pharmacy degree from PDM University. I write articles and daily health news while interviewing doctors to bring you the latest insights. In my free time, you’ll find me at the gym or lost in a sci-fi novel.
- Health News and Updates,People Forum
- 23 January 2026
- 11:00
