Fat stores in an obese person have a different effect on the health than those in a leaner individual, it has been claimed.
A study published in the journal Diabetes has revealed that such fatty tissue in larger people is in fact "sick", according to Eurekalert.
This because the cells within the stores are not working as effectively leading to an increased risk of developing diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
Researchers from the departments of endocrinology, biochemistry and surgery at the Temple University School of Medicine conducted their research by taking fat biopsies from the upper thighs of six obese people and six lean individuals.
Lead author Guenther Boden said: "The fat cells we found in our obese patients were deficient in several areas … They showed significant stress on the endoplasmic reticulum and the tissue itself was more inflamed than in our lean patients."
In related news, obesity among the elderly has been labelled a "ticking time bomb" for health services, following research by at the Peninsula Medical School.
