Research

Hormonal

In postmenopausal women, higher trunk fat mass is a strong independent predictor of insulin resistance and dyslipidemia, whereas higher leg fat mass is favorably associated with these metabolic markers.

For postmenopausal women, focusing solely on total weight loss may miss the mark. Body composition analysis (like DEXA) can reveal if fat is accumulating in the trunk (high risk) or legs (protective). Managing trunk fat is critical for metabolic health, while leg fat may offer some protection against insulin resistance and poor lipid profiles.

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Thus trunk fat is a strong independent predictor of insulin resistance and dyslipidemia in postmenopausal women, whereas leg fat appears to confer protective effects against metabolic dysfunction.
Rachael E. Van Pelt et al. · American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism · 2002

Why this rating

Observational study with rigorous control for confounders (leg/arm fat, age, menopause status) but no causal intervention.

Source

Contributions of total and regional fat mass to risk for cardiovascular disease in older women

Rachael E. Van Pelt et al. · American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism · 2002

DOI 10.1152/ajpendo.00467.2001

cross_sectional · n=166Cited 264×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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