‘Pear-shaped’ as bad as ‘apple-shaped’
View(s):By Claire Bates
People who are ‘apple-shaped’ – with fat concentrated around their middles – have long been thought to be at greater risk from heart disease and diabetes than their ‘pear-shaped’ peers.
But now researchers say the protective effect of carrying weight in the hips, thighs and bum is probably a myth.
A team from UC Davis found that gluteal fat stored in the bottom secretes abnormal levels of two proteins that can lead to inflammation and insulin resistance – early risk factors for heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Study leader Dr Ishwarlal Jialal, said: ‘Fat in the abdomen has long been considered the most detrimental to health, and gluteal fat was thought to protect against diabetes, heart disease and metabolic syndrome.
‘But our research helps to dispel the myth that gluteal fat is ‘innocent.’ It also suggests that abnormal protein levels may be an early indicator to identify those at risk for developing metabolic syndrome.’
Metabolic syndrome refers to a group of risk factors that occur together, doubling the risk for heart disease and increasing the risk for diabetes at least five-fold.
Risk factors include having a large waistline, low levels of ‘good’ cholesterol, high blood pressure, insulin resistance and high triglyceride levels.
The study, published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, was supported by a grant from the American Diabetes Association.
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