What does brown fat look like?
Tiny molecules make up brown fat and those molecules are fat cells. Molecules consist of fatty acids and glycerol. The anatomy of brown fat resembles muscle more than it resembles other fat in your body because the cells that store brown fat in tissues (adipocyte) are smaller.
When fat collects within your body, fat molecules lump together to create a mass. Brown fat looks like a small, brown, lumpy oval.
Why is brown fat the color brown?
Fat in your body has different colors that designate its function. Brown fat is brown because the fat cells are full of mitochondria. Mitochondria is made up of a lot of iron, which gives brown fat its color.
Where is brown fat located?
Brown fat in newborns is located in their back, neck and shoulders. During childhood and adolescence, brown fat scatters around the body. Brown fat in adults is located around the neck, kidneys, adrenal glands, heart (aorta) and chest (mediastinum).
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How much brown fat is in my body?
The amount of fat in your body varies from person to person. You have less brown fat than white fat in your body.
In newborns, brown fat makes up 2% to 5% of their total body weight. During childhood and adolescence, the amount of brown fat reduces. As an adult, you have a small amount of brown fat. People who are lean, like athletes, have more brown fat in their bodies than others.
