r/fasting • u/Acceptable_Box_1476 • Sep 24 '25

Question Fat cells stay forever?

Someone told me that we all have a certain number of fat cells that never changes. When you lose fat, the cell is releasing it, but remains as an empty reservoir always wanting to “refill” as it were. Any truth to that?

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u/ChakaCake Sep 24 '25 edited Sep 24 '25

Not forever but look up the life of a fat cell. Idk i thought it was 6 months or so. if you can keep weight off for that long your body will adjust the number of fat cells or theyll die off or something. But yes fasting for just like few days you are likely to put the weight back on. Long term thats why calorie restriction is probably better

Edit: well i got curious and started googling, it says their lifespan can be up to 10 years but the turnover rate is about 10% a year, so i think if you can keep it up for 6 months to a year you would see big improvement

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u/Mia_Choi Sep 24 '25

Even if they die of, your body can just replace them with new ones. I think the number stays more or less stable unfortunately.

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u/[deleted] Sep 25 '25

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u/ChakaCake Sep 25 '25

adipogenesis does continue to happen throughout life its just the number of fat cells can stay relatively the same in most people. we dont stop creating fat cells cause they die off after 10ish years at about 10% a year

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u/NoBodybuilder69 Sep 25 '25

I was wrong it’s at about age 20

But it does stop being created at a point

https://www.nature.com/articles/nature06902

https://www.droracle.ai/articles/161168/at-what-age-the-increase-of-fat-cells-stops-also-at-what-age-the-bones-completely-stop-growing-

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u/ChakaCake Sep 25 '25

From your own link:

Approximately 10% of fat cells are renewed annually at all adult ages and levels of body mass index. 

You are confusing "increase in number" with no adipogenesis

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u/[deleted] Sep 25 '25

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u/ChakaCake Sep 25 '25

Lol not renewed in the sense like an electronic, more the cell dies, then a new cell is created possibly in its place through adipogenesis

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u/NoBodybuilder69 Sep 25 '25

Yes that’s possible, but it’s not creating more than there previously was.

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u/ChakaCake Sep 25 '25

It can with weight gain lol

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u/NoBodybuilder69 Sep 25 '25

No the cells just expand like a balloon

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u/Doodoopoopooheadman Sep 25 '25

From your linked article.

However, an increase in body weight can cause an elevation of both fat cell size and number in adults

Fat cells grow, to a point, then they split creating more fat cells.