Adipose tissue is the primary depots for triglyceride storage in mammals, including humans. In the course of species evolution, the adipocytes and their surrounding cells not only acquired their position in energy storage, but also obtained their ability to sense and respond to the changes in energy homeostasis. In the last two decades, the adipose tissue is accepted as a genuine endocrine tissue. In theory, the stress that the adipose tissues constantly need to face is under-nutrition rather than over-nutrition. In the case of obesity, the amount of triglycerides may be too much for the adipose tissues to accommodate. Overflow of triglycerides to the other non-adipose tissues like liver and skeletal muscle and subsequent deposition of triglycerides in these tissues impair the physiological and metabolic functions of these organs. Furthermore, the glutton adipose tissues are also sick. Dys-regulation of their gene expression in the adipose tissues by various causes produces their own endocrine dysfunction. The secretion of various fat hormones, such as leptin and adiponectin is altered, adding to the pathological changes we see in the metabolic syndrome and beyond.
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