Most men and women put on weight differently. But on what makes fat settle in a preferential way, there is little evidence.
Scientists ascertained that the specific body shapes are: the android shape, or apple shape, common among men (fat deposits on the middle section of the body, mostly on the abdomen) and the gynoid, or pear shape, more common among women (fat deposited on hips and bottom). There is also the third type of body shape: the ovoid shape, not differentiating between men and women. With this type we can speak of an over-all general coverage of bodyfat.
Thinking of many cases of exceptions, I try to find out in what follows if there is a strict specific fat pattern distribution for men and women and what are the factors influencing fat distribution. And I find this interesting not in as much as the aesthetic side is concerned but from the health perspective.
Being overweight or underweight are characteristics depending on many factors: you are genetically overweight if you have a family history of overweight parents/relatives. Also, the nervous system plays an important role in balancing the body weight: serotonin and endorphins send signals to the brain that induce the need to eat or on the contrary. There is also the CCK hormone which transmits the brain signals on the state of satiety - it decreases hunger.
While generally, body weight is influenced genetically, hormonally and by the body maintenance condition (the activity routine), it seems that the fat distribution is influenced by age, genetic inheritance, race, but to a greater extent by gender specific hormones. They are responsible for the distribution of fat in certain zones of our bodies: thus, estrogens which are responsible of the typical female sexual characteristics will influence the fat deposition in the pear format, favouring its laying on the hips, thighs, and belly, while testosterone will "lead" fat mostly towards tummy and upper body.
Latest studies show that men's tendency towards the gynoid format has increased in the past 30 years (one study shows a growth of 2 inches in men's hips in the past 30 years). According to researches as John R. Lee, M.D (specialist in natural progesterone therapy), Dr. Jesse Hanley and Dr. Peter Eckhart, it seems that modern life exposes people to increased amounts of estrogen and estrogen-like substances (xenoestrogens or foreign estrogens). Sources of these substances can be plastics, plastic drinking bottles, commercially raised beef, chicken and pork, personal care products, pesticides, herbicides, birth control pills, spermacide, detergent, canned foods and lacquers. The problem is that increased estrogen levels in men not only make their hips fatten but are the main risk factor for disease such as prostate enlargement and cancer.
Also, for women, the android pattern fat distribution should raise questions with regard to hormonal imbalances, such situations being a potential cause for health problems such as polycystic ovary syndrome.
We've seen how health related problems can affect body fat, now let's take a look at how fat can induce health problems.
It is clear that increased body fat affects health, the news is that its distribution on the body influences the state of health of specific organs.
According to its placement, fat can be subcutaneous (under the skin) or visceral (around organs). The greatest concern is generated by visceral fat that can interfere with the good functioning of vital organs. There is a relationship between overall fat deposits and specific fat deposits: fat around the body middle section is associated with visceral fat, so, abdominal fat is the most serious health risk.
The waist to hip ratio is a method of determining whether there are excessive amounts of upper body fat. It is obtained by dividing the waist measurement by the hip measurement. The upper limits are:.95 for men and .80 for women. Any exceeding values should be alarming.
Apple-shaped fat individuals are exposed to a greater risk of developing obesity-related diseases, as the fat is intra-abdominal and distributed around their stomach and chest. They risk:
The pear-shaped overweight persons are at greater risk of mechanical problems, as most of their body fat is distributed around their hips, thighs and bottom.
Both apple-shaped and pear-shaped obese persons are likely to develop psychological problems and alteration of the quality of life.
In any case, extra-weight cannot create but problems. Fact is that the main role in acquiring extra-fat is the food intake that the body cannot burn for various reasons (such as a decreased metabolic rate, low activity level or the physical condition), and, consequently, it creates fat deposits. The solution is a classic one: diet and exercise.
However, in shedding extra weight there are men-women differences. The process appears to be harder for women.
The total mass of the body is made up of fat mass and fat-free mass. The fat mass can be of two types: essential and excess. Essential fat is found in bone marrow, in various organs, and throughout the nervous system.
Women are at a disadvantage, as their physiological processes (childbearing and hormone functions) require a plus of essential fat, the "sex-specific fat". Thus the total percentage of body fat is higher, moreover, this part of essential fat is hard to dislodge. Secondly, women have less calorie burning muscle than men, which makes it more more demanding for the female to achieve a trimmer figure. Now, girls, don't use it as an excuse!
About The Author
Laura Ciocan writes for http://www.dietsindex.com where you can find more information about the dietary options.
Please feel free to use this article in your Newsletter or on your website. If you use this article, please include the resource box and send a brief message to let me know where it appeared: http://www.dietsindex.com.
executive chauffeured services Bradford .. Madison to Airport carMost people who want to burn off some excess pounds... Read More
Have You Given Up on Weight Loss? by Greg Landry,... Read More
"I never saw it coming, how did I get so... Read More
Steady gains made in improvement in life expectancy may be... Read More
If you find this article helpful, please forward it to... Read More
"How do I lose 5 kg or 30 kg?""How do... Read More
When you are faced with the daily challenge of trying... Read More
How many meals do you eat in one day?Close study... Read More
"The sovereign invigorator of the body is exercise, and of... Read More
Losing weight is a struggle that many of us face... Read More
I never intended to get fat! I am not exactly... Read More
I wonder how much it is generally known that the... Read More
Over two thirds of Americans are over weight, and half... Read More
False campaignsMore than 50 percent of Americans and Canadians are... Read More
Most people are unsure about how to begin a fat... Read More
Use these tips to turbo charge your weight loss program.Take... Read More
We all know it's hard to begin losing weight, no... Read More
Everywhere we look in the western world we are inundated... Read More
If you are overweight and suffer from pain in your... Read More
Using healthy low carb recipes are an important part of... Read More
Today obesity, diabetes, and heart disease run through us at... Read More
Lets face it, most of us live pretty busy lives... Read More
After patients have had gastric bypass surgery comes a very... Read More
Hoodia Gordonii a cactus plant found thousands of miles away... Read More
Hundreds of products on the market today claim to be... Read More
O'Hare Chicago prom limo ..You know what is so amazing? We get to keep... Read More
"I eat like a bird, why do I gain weight?"... Read More
Much has been written about obesity and globesity. Obesity is... Read More
You are ready to shed those energy draining, body crippling,... Read More
Weight loss is a hot topic among people today, especially... Read More
Diners have become more health-conscious the last few years, and... Read More
Whole grains and weight loss have a definite, scientific, and... Read More
Eating when under stress isn't just about filling an emotional... Read More
Remember that movie with Jim Carey, "Dumb and Dumber?" And... Read More
As an employee of famous fitness star Kathy Smith, personal... Read More
It's now official. The simple act of fidgeting can mean... Read More
Over the past 5 years, online weight loss programs have... Read More
We all know that losing weight and improving your overall... Read More
Being over weight is usually being 20 percent or more... Read More
Have you seen the ditty below that's roaming the Internet... Read More
A client wrote, "Help me! I thought I was finally... Read More
Everyone who has ever tried to lose weight has hit... Read More
Making the Decision:Whether you are interested losing ten pounds that... Read More
Atkins diet was unknown 35 years ago. Though it seems... Read More
A bad day or even a bad week is not... Read More
If you know someone that has been trying to lose... Read More
If you're like most people who tried losing weight on... Read More
Do calories matter or do you simply need to eat... Read More
Any dietary plan on the market has some portion of... Read More
LivingAfterWLS reader feedback indicates snacking is the single biggest problem... Read More
Weight Loss |