Fat bum, big hips good for your health

Fat butts, hips and thighs can help prevent cardiovascular and metabolic problems in men and women, according to newly released research.

A team of Oxford UK researchers says that fat around the butt and hips mops up fatty acids by being slower to shift than fat around the stomach. The study published in the British Medical Journal, which tested more than 3,000 people, claims that men and women with thighs over 23.6 inches have a lower risk of heart disease. When fat is broken down quickly it releases cytokines which can trigger inflammation in the body. Cytokines can trigger cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance and diabetes, according to the BBC. The slower burning fat around the hips and butt, produces a hormone called adiponectin which is beneficial in relation to the arteries, blood sugar control and fat burning. With too little fat around the hips metabolic problems can occur such as Cushing’s syndrome, which can cause diabetes, high blood pressure, muscle weakness and mood swings. Lead researcher Dr Konstantinos Manolopoulos, of Oxford University, said: "It is shape that matters and where the fat gathers. Fat around the hips and thighs is good for you but around the tummy is bad." (BBC) This research could lead to science looking at ways to purposefully increase hip fat and attempt to redistribute body fat to hips and butts to help prevent cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.