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Does loss of gluteofemoral fat through diet and exercise deteriorate metabolic health?

International Journal of Obesity volume 34, pages 1099–1100 (2010)Cite this article

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We read with great interest the recent review by Manolopoulos et al.,1 which reinforces the important notion that regional distribution of adipose tissue is a critical determinant of metabolic risk, independent of total adiposity. Indeed, abdominal adiposity, specifically visceral fat, is a strong predictor of health risk independent of other fat depots, and the reduction of visceral fat through diet and/or exercise is associated with substantial improvement in metabolic profile.2 Conversely, cross-sectional evidence suggests that gluteofemoral subcutaneous fat deposition may be protective against metabolic risk.2 However, in contrast to the authors’ assertion, the reduction of gluteofemoral subcutaneous fat may not always result in negative metabolic changes.

As discussed by Manolopoulos et al.,1 the loss of gluteofemoral subcutaneous fat in pathogenic states such as lipodystrophy is often associated with metabolic deterioration. This reduction in gluteofemoral subcutaneous fat mass occurs via an unfavorable apoptosis of the existing adipocytes.3 In contrast, the loss of gluteofemoral subcutaneous fat among healthy individuals in response to a negative energy balance (as induced by diet or exercise) is a physiologically distinct phenomenon, as it occurs via a reduction in adipocyte size, while the number of adipocytes remains unchanged.4 Whereas loss of functional adipocytes in lipodystrophy is metabolically deleterious, the shrinking of adipocytes during negative energy balance is metabolically beneficial.5

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References

  1. Manolopoulos KN, Karpe F, Frayn KN . Gluteofemoral body fat as a determinant of metabolic health. Int J Obes (Lond) 2010, E-pub ahead of print 12 January 2010.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Kinesiology and Health Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada

    P M Janiszewski

  2. School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    J L Kuk

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  1. P M Janiszewski
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  2. J L Kuk
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Correspondence to P M Janiszewski.

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Janiszewski, P., Kuk, J. Does loss of gluteofemoral fat through diet and exercise deteriorate metabolic health?. Int J Obes 34, 1099–1100 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2010.75

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