Gabe Mirkin, M.D.
Yes; a study reported in the November 5, 2005 issue of
Lancet covered people from 52 countries and confirmed that
storing fat primarily in your belly markedly increases chances of
suffering a heart attack in all groups. Some regions and ethnic
groups appear to be more disposed to this pattern of fat
distribution and their heart attack rate is correspondingly higher.
When you store fat primarily in your belly, you also store it in your
liver. After insulin does its job of driving sugar from the
bloodstream into your cells, it is supposed to be removed by your
liver. Having a lot of fat in your liver prevents your liver from
removing insulin, causing blood levels of insulin to rise too high.
Insulin constricts arteries to cause heart attacks. It also acts on
your brain to make you hungry so you eat more. It acts on your
liver to manufacture more fat and it causes fat to be deposited in
the fat cells in your belly.
Storing fat on your hips, or in both your belly and your
hips, does not increase risk for suffering heart attacks. The
researchers conclude that larger hips are often associated with
greater muscle mass, and strong muscles help to protect you
from heart attacks.
February 1, 2006