It´s probably fair to say that the majority of the female population whatever their shape and size have at some point in their lives asked the question ‘does my bum look big in this?’
However, according to scientists, the results of recently carried out research indicates that there may be certain health benefits for those ‘pear-shaped’ specimens amongst us.
Dr Konstantinos Manolopoulos, a member of the Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism states in the International Journal of Obesity, ‘The idea that body fat distribution is important to health has been known for some time’. He also says ‘However, it´s only very recently that thigh fat and a larger hip circumference has been shown to promote health, that lower body fat is protective by itself.’
Nonetheless, control of your body weight by healthy eating and following an exercise regime is still essential. If you gain weight, as well as an increase in your thigh circumference, your waist will expand too and the protection element is then reduced considerably.
You store fatty acids in your fat tissues which get released as and when required, for example, just after exercising or following a period of starvation. This process is handled by both tummy and thigh fat where fat is stored on a long term basis. On the other hand, fat stored in the waist area is what is used in response to the need for fatty acid release throughout the day and too much fatty acid floating around on a daily basis can cause harm which may lead to heart disease, diabetes and insulin resistance when those fatty acids are deposited in organs like the liver and muscles.
Of course, your body shape and the way it functions vary through different life stages, the menopause being a perfect example.
Dr Manolopoulos continues by saying, ‘We don´t really know how the body decides where to store fat. At the moment we need to understand more about the mechanisms the body uses. Only then will we be able to take the next step and try to influence this.’
Let me know what you think! Be sure to leave your comments below.
It´s probably fair to say that the majority of the female population whatever their shape and size have at some point in their lives asked the question ‘does my bum look big in this?’
However, according to scientists, the results of recently carried out research indicates that there may be certain health benefits for those ‘pear-shaped’ specimens amongst us.
Dr Konstantinos Manolopoulos, a member of the Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism states in the International Journal of Obesity, ‘The idea that body fat distribution is important to health has been known for some time’. He also says ‘However, it´s only very recently that thigh fat and a larger hip circumference has been shown to promote health, that lower body fat is protective by itself.’
Nonetheless, control of your body weight by healthy eating and following an exercise regime is still essential. If you gain weight, as well as an increase in your thigh circumference, your waist will expand too and the protection element is then reduced considerably.
You store fatty acids in your fat tissues which get released as and when required, for example, just after exercising or following a period of starvation. This process is handled by both tummy and thigh fat where fat is stored on a long term basis. On the other hand, fat stored in the waist area is what is used in response to the need for fatty acid release throughout the day and too much fatty acid floating around on a daily basis can cause harm which may lead to heart disease, diabetes and insulin resistance when those fatty acids are deposited in organs like the liver and muscles.
Of course, your body shape and the way it functions vary through different life stages, the menopause being a perfect example.
Dr Manolopoulos continues by saying, ‘We don´t really know how the body decides where to store fat. At the moment we need to understand more about the mechanisms the body uses. Only then will we be able to take the next step and try to influence this.’
Let me know what you think! Be sure to leave your comments below.