Researchers at Harvard University have found that body fat just below the skin (called subcutaneous fat) on the buttocks, hips and thighs may help reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Although the study was done on mice, they are finding the same kind of results in humans. Researchers took some of the subcutaneous fat from these areas and transplanted it to the mice's abdominal area. The result was a drop in body weight and blood sugar levels in these animals (even though their diet and exercise levels remained unchanged.) It seems that there's something in this kind of fat that improves glucose metabolism. They've found that women with larger backsides and smaller stomachs have a smaller risk of developing type 2 diabetes. If the women had larger backsides and larger stomachs, the same was not true. But the type of fat in the backside has as certain hormone that tends to promote weight loss in other areas of the body. It's still important to eat healthy and exercise regularly for overall health. But if you carry a little more "junk in the trunk" than you'd like, maybe that's not such a bad thing after all! |
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