Hi Chris, thanks so much for your detailed answer. It all makes sense to me. I remember my first fast starting at BMI 42 was quite unpleasant in the latter stages, and that was probably because I was undernourished, whereas this latest one, though not quite so long, is easier in comparison. For example less bad breath, no dry lips.
With regard to fat cells, I think you are right, because it makes sense. The contradictory research I found was probably written by medical students hoping to get a better mark in an exam, unfortunately this kind of stuff somehow seems to seep into mainstream medicine, in the same way that anti-fasting stuff does.