We may not be giving lower body fat the credit it deserves.

According to Dr. Michael Jensen, endocrinologist at the Mayo Clinic, cells that settle in the thigh are do behave in a healthy manner, not only in lean people, but also in some who are overweight.
Indeed, the difference between healthy and unhealthy fat tissue in large part depends on where the weight is gained. 

Dr. Jensen led a team of colleagues to discover what “x” factor(s) determine where fat accumulates, whether in the upper body depots, or those in the lower body.
Research Details
Although Dr. Jensen concedes in the abstract of the study that more research is needed to uncover the mystery of why some fat is gained in the upper body rather than the lower body and vice versa, his team did discover that contrary to previous research, the human body can and does create new fat cells in the lower body.
 
Dr. Jensen’s team gathered a group of participants, who were mostly in their twenties, then had them overeat on milk shakes, candy bars – anything they wanted.  After eight weeks, the team measured their thighs, abdomens, and number of fat cells.  On average, they gained 5.5 pounds in the upper body and 3.3 in the lower regions. During this process, they discovered that those who gained weight in their thighs actually produced more fat cells.

Study Results

In an interview with MyHealthNewsDaily, Dr. Jensen asserts that fat cells protect the body by providing confined areas for fat to be stored in.  This protects the body by preventing fat from entering the cells of our muscles and organs, whether stored in the abdomen or the thighs. 

However, when people gain weight in their thighs, their bodies actually create new fat cells to accommodate it.   When weight is gained in the abdomen, new fat cells are not created; rather, the fat cells that are already there merely expand.  If they become too large, they are not able to function in a healthy manner, according to Dr. Jensen.

Specifically, Dr. Jensen asserts that abdominal fat is more likely to lead to metabolic syndrome and higher levels of fat in the blood.

Abdominal Adiposity:  Previous Research

Prior studies have also demonstrated that a pear shaped body is healthier than one that is apple shaped.

According to WebMd, abdominal fat is designed to be just as efficient as lower body fat by being built up and then broken down quickly.  The problem, however, is that the breakdown of abdominal adiposity releases pro-inflammatory proteins called cytokines.  These cytokines have been associated with heart disease, insulin resistance and diabetes.

Cytokines are also released when fat in the thighs are broken down – however, they are fewer in number.  Additionally, those with higher levels of gluteofemoral fat have been shown to have healthier cholesterol levels.