Saturday, May 10, 2008

Why hip fat is good, but pot bellies are bad

We all know this, but some of us like to be reminded that we need a bit there for illness.

Not all body fat is bad. Your body may store "good" fat and "bad" fat, similar to good and bad cholesterol. The finding could explain why liposuction has few health benefits.

Researchers know that not all body fat is equal. The worst kind is excess fat on the internal organs, which causes a pot belly and is known as visceral fat. People with this are more likely to suffer from heart disease and insulin resistance, which leads to type 2 diabetes, than those who put on fat under their skin on their hips and thighs. But it was assumed that such subcutaneous fat was merely the lesser of two evils.

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