Research
Hormonal
Leg fat (appendicular fat) is inversely related to insulin resistance, suggesting that fat storage in the legs may be metabolically protective compared to trunk or liver fat.
Fat stored in the legs may be less harmful to metabolic health than fat stored in the liver or abdomen. While overall weight management is important, the location of fat storage is a key determinant of metabolic risk.
ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
In contrast to abdominal fat, appendicular or leg fat is inversely related to insulin resistance... leg fat... are inversely correlated with insulin resistance.
Why this rating
Based on cross-sectional data; mechanism is inferred.
Source
Beyond the body mass index: tracking body composition in the pathogenesis of obesity and the metabolic syndrome
Manfred J. Müller et al. · Obesity Reviews · 2012
DOI 10.1111/j.1467-789x.2012.01033.x
narrative_reviewCited 296×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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