Adipocyte precursors -- Adipocyte differentiation -- Brown adipose tissue -- White Adipose Tissue -- Sex differences in body fat distribution -- Macrophages and inflammation -- Adipocyte Growth and Factors Influencing Adipocyte Life Cycle -- The Evolution of Mammalian Adipose Tissue -- Dietary determinants of fat mass and body composition -- The genetic determinants of common obesity-susceptibility -- Early Origins of Obesity and Developmental Regulation of Adiposity.

In conjunction with the obesity “epidemic” in the developed world there has been an exponential increase in academic and medical interest in adipose tissue. Consequently, the intricacies and new insights into adiposity have provided some of the most exciting recent advances in science. At the same time, the ability of fat to grow at an almost unlimited capacity means that our ability to combat the rise in global obesity remains very challenging. So with the clear need to further understand the causes of excess adipose tissue growth, this book is designed to provide a comprehensive insight into current perspectives and challenges in adipose tissue biology. In Adipose Tissue Biology, scientists and clinicians discuss adipocyte precursors, differentiation and growth, brown and white adipose tissue, gender, inflammation, dietary and genetic determinants of fat mass, together with evolutionary and developmental aspects of adiposity. It should therefore provide a comprehensive guide and essential reading for doctors, healthcare workers and scientists who are either new to or established within the field – enjoy!