Difference Between Men and Women? Check Their Fat

By Jody Smith HERWriter

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We knew men and women were different. We even knew some of the ways they are different. Now, Dr. Deborah Clegg and her team of researchers have found a new difference.

It's our fat.

Men carry their fat in their mid-sections. This belly fat makes them more susceptible to diseases like diabetes and heart disease. Before women reach menopause, they collect fat in their hips, thighs and posteriors. After women reach menopause, though, they begin to accumulate more fat around their waists. This new belly fat makes them as vulnerable as men to diabetes and heart disease.

Dr. Deborah Clegg is an assistant professor of internal medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center. She is also the senior author of the study in the International Journal of Obesity.

Dr. Clegg said, "Given the difference in gene expression profiles, a female fat tissue won't behave anything like a male fat tissue and vice versa," Dr. Clegg said. "The notion that fat cells between males and females are alike is inconsistent with our findings."

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100514171910.htm

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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.