If you think like I do, no fat is good fat! However, research suggests otherwise. Researchers at the University of Oxford in the UK say “you aren’t just carrying body fat!” You could be carrying protection against some of natures worst enemies! Excess body fat in your butt and thighs could actually help to protect you against diabetes and heart disease (along with other obesity related diseases).
“If you’re going to have fat, you’re definitely better off if you’ve got some fat in the lower body,” said Dr. Michael Jensen, director of endocrine research at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. “If you look at people who have primarily the pear shape, they’re healthy in all the ways that this fat behaves. It’s not just less heart attacks or less diabetes, it’s all these ways we think about fat as an important organ for our health (source).”
People with “apple” shaped bodies were at a higher risk for disease. This was due to the fact that stomach fat is more “metabolically active.” The fat that stores in the stomach acts to send fat to other parts of the body. The excess fat also sends “fatty” messages to other regions of the body. People with a “Pear” shape are less likely to be sensitive to insulin.
While we all wish we could “spot reduce,” we can’t control our fat deposits. No matter how many crunches you do you’re not going to banish belly fat! Whether your an apple or a pear, the focus should always be placed on maintaining a healthy amount of muscle, a heart healthy weight, and a low body fat percentage. Who would have thought that extra weight on your hips and thighs could be a good thing!
Adria Ali
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