How and Where Fat Is Stored Predicts Disease Risk Better than Weight

[Mitra]

How and Where Fat Is Stored Predicts Disease Risk Better than Weight (http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/539879/?sc=mwhn)

This was one of the articles linked from the PP front page. I thought it was very interesting - it proposes the idea that fat storage is actually a protective thing, and that people who overeat but don't get fat can actually have more problems:

“Most people today think that obesity itself causes metabolic syndrome,” said Dr. Roger Unger, professor of internal medicine at UT Southwestern and senior author of the study. “We’re ingrained to think obesity is the cause of all health problems, when in fact it is the spillover of fat into organs other than fat cells that damages these organs, such as the heart and the liver. Depositing fatty molecules in fat cells where they belong actually delays that harmful spillover.”

[gitfiddle]

I've been reading some fascinating information on that subject. It seems that cells can become fat-resistant just as they can become insulin-resistant. That's why some folks can grow to 800 lbs and others stop at 300 or 200. If you keep eating fat past the point where your cells can store it, it will spill over into your organs and then you DO have problems. :paranoid: At least, that's the way I understood it.

Interpretation is welcome!

[maxlharris]

Just read something else about back fat and insulin resistance. apparently, carrying extra in the back demonstrates higher insulin resistance. Of course, you could always do a GTT with your doc and know, but sometimes you just want a quick guess.