One of the things that irks me about discussions of various obesity related topics is the inappropriate use of terminology. I would like to give the benefit of the doubt and presume that for most who do this, it is inadvertent. Often this is due to not having a complete understanding of human metabolism and physiology (cough ... ahem ... Mr. Gary Taubes) , but at some point, when speaking from a presumed position of authority, this excuse doesn't cut it. To be fair, the peer review literature and higher level texts are rife with inconsistencies of their own. Most authors are likely simply using the term they are most familiar with not realizing that those terms mean different things in different contexts. Still, a careful reading of said literature is all that is needed to understand how they are using the terms and the process to which they are referring.
This has been briefly addressed here previously. As with insulin resistance, I think the "fat formation" realm is in dire need of some more clear definitions and applications of the terminology. The terms adipogenesis and lipogenesis are often used interchangeably (even considered synonymous). But I would like to propose that -- although it's probably not going to happen -- a revised and expanded terminology should be agreed upon and used consistently. Expanded? Yes, because the conversions between types of lipids -- the cyclic conversion of -- fatty acids + glycerol ↔ triglyceride -- is not a "genesis" of anything, it is merely a conversion of one form of lipid to another. On that note ...
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