For decades, health advice has often focused on reducing body fat at all costs, promoting a narrow view that all fat is harmful. However, groundbreaking research from the University of Oxford is challenging this perspective, suggesting that not all fat is created equal—and that where fat is stored may influence both physical health and brain function.
Curves and Physical Health
The study analyzed data from over 16,000 women, revealing that fat stored in the hips and thighs—known as gluteal-femoral fat—may provide protective benefits. Unlike abdominal fat, which surrounds internal organs and is linked to inflammation, heart disease, and metabolic issues, lower-body fat captures harmful fatty acids and keeps them from reaching vital organs like the heart and liver. This helps maintain metabolic stability and reduces the risk of long-term damage.
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