Providing the body with too many or too few nutrients, without balancing the energy needs of the body could result in weight gain or weight loss respectively. The intake of too many nutrients causes the body to store that which is not needed. Usually this is in the form of fatty acids and triglycerides stored as fat molecules in adipose tissue. The number of adipose cells do not increase with the addition of too many nutrients, but the amount of fat molecules in the cell increases causing cells to expand. Since fat molecules are composed of numerous glucose molecules forming a complex carbohydrate chain, body weight increases.
Adipose tissue is found throughout the body.
Fat molecules accumulate within the cells of the adipose tissue resulting in an increase in body size. Due to the high-energy content of fat molecules, more energy is required to break down the molecules in order to be utilized. Consequently, exercise is a necessity. As fat molecules are broken down, the mass of the adipose tissue decreases. This decrease in size causes a decrease in body weight and size.