---
title: "What is the difference between white fat and brown fat?"
url: "https://worldwiki.io/q/what-is-the-difference-between-white-fat-and-brown-fat"
type: "question"
language: "en"
intent: "informational"
entity: "Adipose Tissue"
topic: "SVF & Adipose-derived Cells"
published: "2026-09-18 06:21:20"
updated: "2026-10-08 09:18:06"
---

# What is the difference between white fat and brown fat?

## Short answer

White fat cells hold one large lipid droplet, which fills about 90% of the cell, and mainly store energy as triglycerides. Brown fat cells hold many small droplets and many mitochondria. They use uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) to burn energy as heat without shivering. In adults, brown fat is found mainly in the neck, above the collarbones, along the spine and in the centre of the chest. White fat is found under the skin and around the organs.

## Answer

A third type, beige fat, forms inside white fat depots after cold exposure or similar stimuli and can also produce heat [2]. Studies from 2009 found brown fat more often after cold exposure and less often in older people and people with a higher BMI [5].

### Stem cells in cosmetic surgery

In cosmetic surgery, "stem cell" procedures almost always use [adipose-derived stem cells](/entity/adipose-derived-stem-cell). The stromal vascular fraction (SVF), which contains them, is separated from liposuctioned fat and mixed into the fat being grafted, as in [stem cell breast augmentation](/entity/stem-cell-breast-augmentation) and [stem cell fat grafting](/entity/stem-cell-fat-grafting).

## Related questions

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- [Why is fat tissue used as a source of stem cells?](https://worldwiki.io/q/why-is-fat-tissue-used-as-a-source-of-stem-cells)
- [What is adipose tissue?](https://worldwiki.io/q/what-is-adipose-tissue)
- [Do fat cells disappear when you lose weight?](https://worldwiki.io/q/do-fat-cells-disappear-when-you-lose-weight)

## Sources

1. [Comparative anatomy and metabolic profiles of brown and white adipose tissue in humans](https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2026.1821542/full) — Frontiers in Endocrinology · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/116
2. [Plasticity of Adipose Tissues: Interconversion among White, Brown, and Beige Fat and Its Role in Energy Homeostasis](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11048349/) — Biomolecules (MDPI), via PubMed Central · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/117
3. [Adipose Tissue (Body Fat): Anatomy & Function](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/24052-adipose-tissue-body-fat) — Cleveland Clinic · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/118
4. [Visceral Fat: What It Is & How It Affects You](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24147-visceral-fat) — Cleveland Clinic · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/119
5. [Brown adipose tissue: what have we learned since its recent identification in human adults](http://www.scielo.br/j/abem/a/NF7L3d7NZbPxQXwtXnbB6Jn/?lang=en) — Arquivos Brasileiros de Endocrinologia & Metabologia · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/120
6. [Leptin 30 years – A chat with Jeffrey M. Friedman](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11967189/) — Archives of Endocrinology and Metabolism, via PubMed Central · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/121
7. [Lipodystrophies - StatPearls](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459180/) — NCBI Bookshelf, U.S. National Library of Medicine · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/122
8. [Obesity and overweight (fact sheet)](https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight) — World Health Organization · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/123
9. [A Simple and Effective Mechanical Method for Adipose-Derived Stromal Vascular Fraction Isolation](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11055620/) — Cureus, via PubMed Central · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/124
10. [Important Patient and Consumer Information About Regenerative Medicine Therapies](https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/consumers-biologics/important-patient-and-consumer-information-about-regenerative-medicine-therapies) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/96