Shape Magazine
Facts about Fat
Why does this type of fat wreak such havoc? Because intra-abdominal fat dumps fatty acids into the bloodstream at a frenetic pace and because these fat molecules head directly to the liver, compromising its ability to control insulin in the blood. Excess insulin can cause high blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol levels and high triglycerides (unhealthy blood fats) -- the conditions that make up "metabolic syndrome" and typically foreshadow diabetes and heart disease. Stress also plays a role in intra-abdominal fat, because this type of fat has more receptors for cortisol, a stress hormone. When you're under constant stress, you produce excess cortisol, causing more fat to be deposited in your gut.
In contrast, fat that lies close to the skin -- whether it's the jiggly inch you can pinch around your waist or the saddlebags on your thighs -- doesn't seem to cause health problems. In fact, some research suggests that if you have excess intra-abdominal fat, extra thigh fat may actually offer protection against heart disease. "Thighs seem to suck fat out of your circulation," Gaesser says, "preventing a high blood-fat level that can clog your arteries. Think of your thighs as a big sink that can act as a depot for storing fat."
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