It’s not news that excess weight around the middle can contribute to a host of diseases. Often referred to as the “middle-age spread,” it has become an increasing concern. As women progress through those middle years, the proportion of fat to body weight increases, even more than it does in men. (It figures, right?) Menopause is the biggest culprit, as this is the time when extra pounds seem to find themselves right around that pesky midsection. Fat storage begins to locate in the upper body as opposed to the hips and thighs. (Thank goodness for big sweaters and winter coats!) Even those lucky ladies who do not gain weight may still gain extra inches around the waist.
Invariably, as those waistlines expand, the risk for health problems increases. Excess abdominal fat, also known as visceral fat, has been attributed to certain metabolic problems, cardiovascular disease, and Type 2 diabetes. It is also linked to breast cancer for women and the potential need for gall bladder surgery. Visceral fat, as opposed to the subcutaneous fat that you can readily grasp with your hand, rests within the abdominal region, padding the areas between the abdominal organs.
It has also been recently reported that having excess weight in the midsection can jeopardize bone health and increase a woman’s risk of osteoporosis. Previously, it was thought that obesity actually protected women against the disease, as the extra body fat seemed to afford protection against bone loss. (Not that I would willingly gain weight to support that theory!)
Doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital conducted a study of 50 premenopausal women who presented with a body mass index of 30. The doctors measured the bone marrow fat and bone mineral density of these women to ascertain their bone mass and loss.
Key to the research was their focus on the visceral fat, as they wanted to determine if such fat played a more pivotal role in the potential for developing osteoporosis than the subcutaneous fat.
In addition to genetics, diet and exercise contribute to the amount of visceral fat a body stores. This type of fat is considered the most dangerous, especially since it greatly increases one’s chance to develop heart disease.
The tests that the study participants underwent revealed that those with more visceral fat had more bone marrow fat and less bone mineral density, which, in effect, spelled out a greater risk for developing osteoporosis. The study reported no significant link between the amount of subcutaneous fat and bone marrow fat or bone mineral density.
Essentially, the study indicated that excess belly fat is far more damaging to bone health than having more fat just beneath the surface or around the hips.
There are also other reasons cited for the fact that excess visceral fat contributes to poor bone health. People who eat significant amounts of carbohydrates and saturated fats, for example, are most likely obese and less likely to engage in exercise. A lack of exercise is linked with obesity and low bone mass. As we all know, weight-bearing exercise can improve one’s bone marrow density. Additionally, the more visceral fat one carries, the more challenging it is for the body to absorb the nutrients necessary for good bone health, such as calcium and vitamin D.
What this all basically boils down to is one simple truth we all know, but many love to hate: exercise is important! Even my 106-year-old grandmother, who has always had a passionate love affair with food, rarely misses a day of working out her body, even if it’s just a few simple stretching exercises.
“Exercise,” she smiles, as she puts another forkful of dinner into her eager mouth. “That got me to where I am today.” It’s never too late to join her! Get moving!
(Information for this article was found at http://www.aolhealth.com/2010/12/07/belly-fat-puts-women-at-risk-for-osteoporosis/)