Hormonal
Women exhibit a 'pear-shaped' peripheral fat distribution (gluteal-femoral) that confers protection against metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis, independent of total body fat levels.
Your body shape influences your health risk more than your total weight. Women who store fat in their hips and thighs (pear shape) have a biological advantage that protects against heart disease and diabetes, even if they have more total body fat than men. Focus on overall health rather than just total fat mass.
Women, compared to men, have higher percent body fat and deposit it in a different pattern, with relatively more adipose tissue in the hips and thighs. This ‘female’ fat distribution, independent of total body fat, confers protection against metabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis [1].
Why this rating
The paper is a comprehensive review citing multiple epidemiological, clinical, and molecular studies, though it notes some mechanisms remain 'poorly understood'.
Source
Sex differences in human adipose tissues – the biology of pear shape
Kalypso Karastergiou et al. · Biology of Sex Differences · 2012
DOI 10.1186/2042-6410-3-13
More from this paper
- Gluteal-femoral subcutaneous adipose tissue in women acts as a safe lipid reservoir and actively regulates systemic metabolism, contributing to improved insulin sensitivity and lipid profiles compared to visceral fat.Good
- Sex steroids (estrogen and testosterone) are the primary drivers of sex differences in fat distribution, with estrogen promoting peripheral storage and testosterone promoting central storage.Good
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