[Behavior of the volume and number of fat cells in obese patients in middle age in inpatient weight reduction].

Fat cell volume and fat cell quantity were determined in subcutaneous fatty tissue of 27 obese patients (22 female and 5 male aged 42 +/- 8) before and after in-patient weight reduction. 47 normal probands of the same age served as a control group. With in-patient weight reduction, fat cell volume decreased significantly, while fat cell quantity remained constant. Division of obesity into hypertrophical and hypertrophical-hypercellular types based on fatty tissue cellularity is suggested. Possible indication for the determination of fat cell volume in obese patients is shown.