Gabe Mirkin, M.D.
If you are woman who is thinking about getting
liposuction to rid yourself of the fat in your thighs, think again.
Dr. Anne B. Newman, of the University of Pittsburgh found that
thigh fat may be good fat (Journal of Clinical Endocrinology &
Metabolism, August 12, 2005). Older women with lots of fat in
their thighs are at much lower risk for ''metabolic syndrome," a
condition associated with high blood sugar, cholesterol and blood
pressure that increase risk for diabetes and heart disease. The
bad fat appears to be stored in the abdomen and wraps around
organs. In post-menopausal women, heavy thighs and buttocks
are associated with lower triglycerides, blood sugar and blood
pressure. However, women who also stored lots of fat in their
bellies lost much of their advantage.
We aren’t sure how thigh fat prevents disease. It may be
a receptacle that draws triglycerides and other fats from the
bloodstream or it may draw fat from the abdomen and around
organs where it could be lethal. Sadly, there is no way to store
fat only in the thighs. When you gain weight, you add fat
everywhere. But it’s safer to look like a pear than an apple.
March 25, 2006