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Adipose Tissue Development and Metabolism

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Principles of Molecular Medicine

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Abstract

Excess body fat is associated with many medical complications and obesity has become a major health problem in the United States and most other industrialized countries. The existence of adipose tissue as a specialized organ reflects the mechanism developed by organisms over time to cope with irregular and unpredictable supplies of nutrients. This ability to store fat was probably a survival feature of Homo sapiens; however, excess body fat has become a major heath problem. This chapter will briefly examine development and metabolic functions of adipose tissue and how these processes are regulated.

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Authors
  1. Sheila Collins
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  2. Yushi Bai
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  3. Jacques Robidoux
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology Carolina Cardiovascular Biology Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC

    Marschall S. Runge MD, PhD  & Cam Patterson MD  & 

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© 2006 Humana Press Inc.

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Collins, S., Bai, Y., Robidoux, J. (2006). Adipose Tissue Development and Metabolism. In: Runge, M.S., Patterson, C. (eds) Principles of Molecular Medicine. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-963-9_51

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-963-9_51

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-202-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-963-9

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