Tom was overweight when he was 13. During puberty, he continued to gain weight steadily until the age of 23, when he decided to lose weight. Tom successfully lost 50 pounds. What most likely happened to Tom's fat cells?

Question

Tom was overweight when he was 13. During puberty, he continued to gain weight steadily until the age of 23, when he decided to lose weight. Tom successfully lost 50 pounds. What most likely happened to Tom's fat cells? ​

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When Tom lost weight, his fat cells would have decreased in size due to the loss of the fat they were storing. However, it is unlikely that he lost a significant number of fat cells. This is because the number of fat cells in our bodies is largely determined during childhood and adolescence and tends to stay relatively constant through adulthood, even if we gain or lose weight. So, while Tom's fat cells likely shrank in size, they probably did not decrease in number.

Tom Was Overweight When He Was 13