Hip Fat Good; Organ Fat Bad
New Scientist (2008-05-10) P. 8; Holmes, Bob
A recent study by researchers at the Joslin Diabetes Center is Boston has found that fat stored under the skin, known as subcutaneous fat, may have health benefits. During the study, C. Ronald Kahn and his colleagues transplanted subcutaneous fat into the bodies of some mice and visceral fat--a type of fat that is known to increase the risk of heart disease, insulin resistance, and diabetes--into other mice.
The researchers found that the mice that received the subcutaneous fat transplants developed lighter, leaner bodies and less insulin resistance than the mice that received visceral fat transplants and those that received no fat transplant at all. Kahn noted that he thinks subcutaneous fat might produce these benefits because it secretes hormones that speed up the body's metabolism.
If the findings can be extrapolated to humans, they could explain why liposuction--which removes subcutaneous fat--does not reduce diabetes or other side effects of obesity, said the Mayo Clinic's John Miles. He added that the findings could also suggest that liposuction may be harmful to a person's health, though more studies are needed before that can be proven.
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