Fat storage is a physiological response that has evolved over millions of years in reaction to a limited and tenuous supply of food. In nature, most animals live meal to meal. But in the modern world, the supply of food is plentiful, so it has been harder to control body weight, which is often gained whether or not you want or need it.
Definition
Adipose tissue is the form of tissue that fat takes in the body. It is located just beneath the skin or between other organs such as the muscles and heart. Any excess carbohydrates, proteins and dietary fats can be converted into fatty acids and stored as adipose tissue in the body. Where the fat is stored depends on such factors as physiology and genetics. It cannot be controlled.
Triglycerides
According to the Mayo Clinic, unused calories are converted by your body into a form of fatty lipids called triglycerides. This conversion is triggered by the enzyme lipase in response to greater concentrations of fatty acids in the blood. Triglycerides transport fatty acids around the lymphatic system and bloodstream, but they make poor sources of energy, so they are mostly stored within fat cells. A normal amount of triglycerides in the blood is less than 150 milligrams per deciliter---or a tenth of a liter.
Energy Stores
If your body cannot immediately find a ready-made supply of energy, then it will first turn to glycogen reserves, which are a stored form of carbohydrates. Once the glycogen is mostly exhausted, your body will begin converting adipose tissue through a catabolic reaction---meaning a reaction that breaks down complex compounds---called lipolysis. During this process, triglycerides are converted into fatty acids and glycerol by a form of lipase enzyme called hormone sensitive lipase.
Energy Usage
When you lose weight, adipose is broken down into fatty acids and glycerol, which are then used for the necessary physiological functions throughout the body. They are transported by the bloodstream to cells for energy or taken to the liver for additional processing. Glycerol is often converted into the carbohydrate called glucose, which is a necessary unit for the production of usable energy in the body.
Significance
It is important to keep in mind that the body has a number of homeostatic responses in place. If you open up a negative calorie gap---the difference between calories used and calories consumed---then your body will automatically turn inward for energy, converting adipose and glycogen for use in hungry cells. But your body will not respond if your blood sugar remains high because it already has excess energy, so to lose weight, you should only consume foods that keep your blood sugar at a moderate level.
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