Research
Energy balance
In obese women, body fat distribution (upper vs. lower body) does not significantly correlate with basal metabolic rate (BMR), sleeping metabolic rate (SMR), or 24-hour energy expenditure (24h-EE).
For obese women, where you carry your fat (waist vs. hips) does not appear to change your resting metabolic rate. Weight loss strategies should focus on caloric balance rather than targeting specific fat distribution areas for metabolic boost.
GoodRefutesHIGH confidence
No correlations were found between W/T and adjusted 24h-EE, SMR or RQ in all examined groups. In obese females there was no such correlation between adjusted BMR and W/T.
Why this rating
Same rigorous methodology as N1, controlling for menstrual cycle phase where possible.
Source
Body fat distribution and energy metabolism in obese men and women.
P. Antonio Tataranni et al. · Journal of the American College of Nutrition · 1994
DOI 10.1080/07315724.1994.10718449
cross_sectional · n=223Cited 38×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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