EBS ‘Science Is My Hobby’ to examine the role of fat in regulating appetite

For those trying to lose weight, fat is often cited as something that must be reduced. The EBS science talk show ‘Science Is My Hobby’ will broadcast the episode ‘Fat, why lose this good thing?’ on October 9 at 10:50 PM on EBS1. Professor Kim Jae-beom from the Department of Biological Sciences at Seoul National University will appear to explain that fat is not merely a mass of oil, but a tissue involved in the body's energy balance and appetite regulation. The program covers how fat cells remain even after weight loss, how adipose tissue exchanges signals with the brain, and the difference between visceral fat and subcutaneous fat.

MC Defconn, along with Professor Woo Choong-wan, Professor Jang Hong-je, and science communicator Hangseong, will examine the functions of fat alongside Professor Kim. Professor Kim, who has studied fat for over 30 years, explains the role of fat, stating, “Fat is being treated unfairly,” regarding its reputation as an enemy of dieting.

Highlighting fat, which has been considered only as an enemy of dieting

The starting point of the broadcast is the perspective that fat is only something to be eliminated. According to the program introduction, Defconn introduces himself as a perennial dieter and reveals that he manages his weight through 'one meal a day.' He also discusses the difficulties experienced during the dieting process. In response, Professor Kim, as a researcher who has studied fat for over 30 years, steps forward to explain the role of fat and attempt to clear the false accusations cast upon it. The cast continues the conversation regarding what fat does inside the body and why fat remains even when people try to reduce it.

EBS introduced adipose tissue as an endocrine organ that constantly exchanges signals with the brain to balance the body's energy. Therefore, the fat discussed in the broadcast does not only refer to the amount of flesh attached to the body. It also covers the function of adipose tissue in exchanging signals and secreting hormones.

The discussion surrounding the role of fat leads to how to distinguish between 'good fat' and 'bad fat.' The broadcast mentions both visceral fat, which must be lost, and subcutaneous fat, which must be maintained to prevent aging. Even though they are grouped together under the name 'fat,' visceral fat and subcutaneous fat are explained as different entities in the program. The content moves away from the idea that fat must unconditionally be reduced and instead distinguishes the types and roles of fat.

Adipose tissue that exchanges signals with the brain

One of the functions of fat introduced by EBS is appetite regulation. Adipose tissue balances the body's energy by exchanging signals with the brain. In particular, leptin, a hormone secreted by fat, is introduced as something that controls appetite by sending a signal to the brain that one is full. The program covers the fact that the signal regulating appetite does not start only in the brain but also comes from adipose tissue. By linking the explanation that fat is an endocrine organ that balances the body's energy with the function of leptin, the role of fat is examined extensively up to appetite regulation.

The broadcast introduces the process by which fat is involved in appetite, focusing on the relationship where adipose tissue and the brain exchange signals. Leptin is explained as a hormone secreted by fat and a signal that informs the brain of fullness. Accordingly, fat is treated as both a target for weight loss and a tissue that participates in the process of the body regulating energy. EBS introduced this as the twist of fat, an 'independent organ.' Professor Kim and the cast appearing on the program will engage in conversation regarding the functions of fat and explain how the signals that govern appetite are transmitted.

This content also connects to the 'one meal a day' mentioned by Defconn. Defconn says he is adjusting his meal frequency for weight management, and Professor Kim explains the functions performed by fat in the body. The program also presents the fact that the fat people try to reduce during dieting is involved in appetite signals and energy balance. However, the broadcast introduction released by EBS does not contain specific secretion amounts of leptin, individual differences, or change values according to the number of meals. The core content to be covered in the broadcast is that adipose tissue secretes leptin, and leptin instructs the brain to feel full, thereby controlling appetite.

Fat cells that remain even after losing weight and the yo-yo effect

The program presents the fact that fat cells themselves do not disappear even after weight is lost as an explanation for the yo-yo effect. According to EBS, the number of fat cells in the body is determined once a person becomes an adult. When losing weight, fat cells do not disappear, but rather the size of the cells decreases. The broadcast introduction compares this to a deflated rubber balloon, explaining the state where fat cells remain and can grow large again. The content examines the yo-yo effect, where weight increases again after dieting, by linking it to changes in the number and size of fat cells.

The explanation that the number of fat cells is fixed and that cell size decreases after weight loss are major themes of the broadcast. EBS revealed that even if body weight decreases, the cells have not disappeared, and the cells themselves remain. Therefore, the program deals with the fact that the changes shown on the scale are not the same as the changes in fat cells. Based on his long experience researching fat, Professor Kim is expected to explain what state fat cells remain in during the weight control process. The broadcast introduces the yo-yo effect experienced by dieters along with the characteristics of fat cells.

EBS explains the yo-yo effect by distinguishing between the number and size of fat cells. The content that the number of cells is fixed after becoming an adult leads to the explanation that cells do not disappear even if weight is lost. What changes during the weight loss process is the size of the cells, while the cells themselves remain. Along with this, the program introduces the function of fat in exchanging signals with the brain and balancing energy. By combining the fact that fat cells remain with the explanation that adipose tissue is involved in the body's regulation process, the physical changes surrounding fat are dealt with from various aspects.

Differences between visceral fat and subcutaneous fat are also introduced

The broadcast explains the distinction between visceral fat and subcutaneous fat. EBS cited visceral fat as the fat that must be lost and presented subcutaneous fat as the fat that must be maintained to prevent aging. The program introduction contains the content that even for the same fat, it must be viewed differently depending on its location and role. EBS expressed this difference as a 'difference in lineage' and stated that the broadcast would cover the criteria for identifying what to reduce and what to maintain among the fat in the body.

The functions of adipose tissue and cell changes introduced earlier are also included in the broadcast along with this distinction. Fat balances energy by exchanging signals with the brain and is involved in appetite regulation by secreting leptin. The explanation that fat cell numbers do not disappear but their size decreases even when weight is lost also follows. Adding the difference between visceral fat and subcutaneous fat, the content conveys that fat is not treated as just one type but that each type is distinguished. The program explains the common notion that fat must unconditionally be lost alongside the various functions of fat.

Professor Kim will appear as a professor of the Department of Biological Sciences at Seoul National University, and the hosting includes Defconn, Professor Woo Choong-wan, Professor Jang Hong-je, and science communicator Hangseong. They will cover the functions of fat, appetite regulation through leptin, fat cells and the yo-yo effect, and the difference between visceral fat and subcutaneous fat in a talk show format. EBS ‘Science Is My Hobby’ Episode 104, ‘Fat, why lose this good thing?’, will be broadcast on Friday, October 9, 2026, at 10:50 PM on EBS1.

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