Big butts defend diabetes, say U.S. researchers

Chicago, January 3: People with big butts and liberal fat deposits around hips and buttocks have a reason to smile. A U.S. team of researchers say that fat stored in these areas has defensive action against diabetes.

Researchers explained that fat found in lower bottom areas of body, such as buttocks and hips referred to as subcutaneous fat, may protect from diabetes since it improves insulindefine's sensitivity, thus praising a 'pear-shaped' built.

Insulin hormone regulates the blood sugar in human body and its sensitivity may keep diabetes away. Subcutaneous fat lies right under the skin. Research team indicated that fat around the abdominal area can put a person at heart disease and diabetes risk.
Study lead, Dr Ronald Kahn from Harvard Medical School in Boston, said: "I think it's an important result because not only does it say that not all fat is bad, but I think it points to a special aspect of fat where we need to do more research."

The study, which is published in the journal 'Cell Metabolism', involved donor mice whose subcutaneous fat was transplanted to other mice under their skin and bellies. Mice that underwent fat transplant in bellies had better metabolism and controlled blood sugar levels compared to the other category.

"What we found was that when we put it in either place, there was some improvement in metabolism," commented Kahn, "Although fat is known to produce several hormonesdefine, none of the known hormones appeared to be involved in this process."

However, research director at health charity Diabetes UK, Dr Iain Frame, said: "The paper describes the manipulation of fat cells in mice. Therefore it would be misleading, or even wrong, at this stage to link the results of this work to whether or not a person is at more or less risk of developing Type 2 diabetesdefine because of the size of their buttocks."

"It would certainly take away from our key message based on hard scientific evidence rather than the extrapolation of preliminary findings from experiments in mice, that maintaining a healthy weight through a balanced diet low in fat, salt and sugar and with plenty of fruit and vegetables is by far the best way for most people in Britain to reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes," concluded Dr Frame.

But Kahn says that these "surprising" results may be benefiting. "If we can capture those substances, we might have an opportunity to convert them into drugs or use them as guides to help develop drugs," he said.