Adipogenesis
The biological process by which the body creates new fat cells from precursor cells, influencing energy storage and metabolism.
Plain English
Patient-Friendly Explanation
Adipogenesis is the process by which your body creates new fat cells from precursor cells. While it sounds negative, this natural process affects how your body stores energy and responds to weight changes throughout life.
Medical
Clinical Definition
Adipogenesis is the differentiation of preadipocytes into mature, lipid-storing adipocytes, regulated by a transcriptional cascade involving C/EBPβ, C/EBPα, and PPARγ — the master regulator of adipocyte development. While adipocyte number was historically thought to be fixed after adolescence, research shows approximately 10% annual turnover in adults. Excessive adipogenesis, particularly in visceral depots, contributes to adipocyte hypertrophy, hypoxia, and the chronic inflammatory state associated with obesity.
Key Insight
Why It Matters
Understanding how fat cells form and turn over is key to understanding why weight regain is so common. Dr Joseph Wang's programme addresses both the metabolic and cellular factors that make long-term weight maintenance challenging.
Sources
Reviewed against standard medical references.
Medically reviewed by
Family Physician & Registered Acupuncturist, Accord Medical Clinic. MBBS (NUS), Graduate Diploma in Family Medicine (NUS), Graduate Diploma in Acupuncture (Singapore College of TCM).
Last reviewed: August 2026
This page is general health education, not medical advice. Whether any treatment is appropriate for you is a decision made in consultation after assessment.