: Does possession of a certain quantity of bodyfat effect the body’s capacity to build muscle? Does possession of a certain quantity of bodyfat effect the body’s capacity to build muscle? Or is it an irrelevant factor?

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Does possession of a certain quantity of bodyfat effect the body’s
capacity to build muscle?

In order to build muscle, which adds weight to the body, a caloric
surplus and sufficient protein intake is required. If bodyfat is
sufficiently high however, the body can utilize the energy produced
from the breakdown of that fat to build muscle even while in a
deficit.

When you are on an iso- or hypercaloric diet, you get all the energy and nutrients required for a muscle growth from food, so the body fat does not break down and does not contribute to muscle growth.

When you are on a hypocaloric diet, your body fat can be used for energy and, maybe, indirectly, for muscle growth. But this still doesn't answer the question if the higher amount of body fat can result in greater or faster muscle mass gain. By the way, muscle mass gain is possible in a calorie deficit (PubMed, 2000 ; PubMed, 2011.)

In conclusion, I see no logic how could greater body fat stores contribute to greater muscle mass gain, except maybe in a hypocaloric diet. This idea probably arises from a common practice of bulking when exercising for muscle mass gain. But as said in one comment, increased fatty stores are probably just a side effect of bulking rather than a beneficial factor for muscle growth.