The prevalence of obesity and associated chronic diseases continues to increase worldwide, negatively impacting on societies and economies. Whereas the association between excess body weight and increased risk for developing a multitude of diseases is well established, the initiating mechanisms by which weight gain impairs our metabolic health remain surprisingly contested. In order to better address the myriad of disease states associated with obesity, it is essential to understand adipose tissue dysfunction and develop strategies for reinforcing adipocyte health. In this Review we outline the diverse physiological functions and pathological roles of human white adipocytes, examining our current knowledge of why white adipocytes are vital for systemic metabolic control, yet poorly adapted to our current obesogenic environment.

肥胖及相关慢性疾病的患病率在世界范围内持续增加，对社会和经济产生负面影响。尽管体重过重与罹患多种疾病的风险增加之间的关联已得到充分证实，但体重增加损害我们代谢健康的启动机制仍然存在令人惊讶的争议。为了更好地解决与肥胖相关的多种疾病状态，有必要了解脂肪组织功能障碍并制定加强脂肪细胞健康的策略。在这篇综述中，我们概述了人类白色脂肪细胞的多种生理功能和病理作用，检查了我们目前对为什么白色脂肪细胞对于全身代谢控制至关重要但又不太适应我们当前的致肥环境的知识。