Scientists discover origin of bad fat linked to heart disease and cancer

Scientists have discovered origin of the "bad" kind of fat found in the body that's linked with heart disease, cancer and other serious obesity-related illnesses, even though people carrying it can look slim.

The new discovery could lead new ways to control how this kind of cell contributes to the bad fat that surrounds the vital organs so that it becomes possible to lower the chances of developing the kind of obesity that raises the risk of serious disease, the Independent reported.

Lead author You-Ying Chau of Edinburgh University said that to determine the origins of good and bad fat has been one of the big unanswered questions in obesity research and they have now shown that most bad fat comes from cells expressing the Wt1 gene in the later stages of pregnancy.

Dr Chau further added that cells that express Wt1 will continue to act as a source of visceral fat into adulthood.

The study has been published in the journal Nature Cell Biology.