Fat mass expansion in obesity occurs via adipocyte hyperplasia
(increased adipocyte number) and/or adipocyte hypertrophy (increased size of adipocytes) [30]. The latter is often associated with AT dysfunction and inflammation [35]. Although there was no change in the mass of the epididymal fat depot induced by cocoa treatment, the adipocyte cell size distribution was markedly changed with an increase in the number of smaller cells and a decrease in the number of larger cells. Skurk et al. have reported that adipocyte size is an important determinant of the production of cytokines including IL-6, IL-8 and MCP-1 in AT [36].