Question #21a69

Adipose is basically fat tissue. It can be formed from esterification of carboxylic acids with alcohols, amongst other methods.
Cholesterol also plays a role with the LDL, HDL and triglycerides, and is regulated by various hormones and enzymes, amongst others, LPL, HSL, leptin and insulin.

There are two kinds of Adipose tissue - White and Brown.

White Adipose Tissue is the 'fat reservoir' of the body where excess calories are stored in form of triglycerides, and Brown Adipose Tissue is involved in thermogenesis and maintenance of core body temperature. Of course, thick layers of visceral and subcutaneous fat will also play a role in organ protection through thermal insulation and shock absorption.

In relatively recent literature, adipose tissue is also becoming increasingly accepted as an endocrine organ. It secretes a plethora of factors that behave like hormones, including Adiponectin, Leptin and Resistin which have been found to regulate glucose metabolism, regulate satiety and mediate insulin resistance in Type 2 diabetes (respectively). This seems to be the link that explains comorbidity of Obesity and Diabetes.