Big hips 'impair' women's memory, a study finds
Being pear-shaped may hamper brain function, the researchers believeA woman's body shape may influence how good her memory is, according to US researchers.
Although carrying excess weight anywhere appears to impair older women's brains, carrying it on the hips may make matters worse, they say.
The Northwestern Medicine team found "apple-shaped" women fared better than "pears" on cognitive tests.
But depositing fat around the waist increases the risk of cancer, diabetes and heart disease, experts warn.
They said the findings, in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, highlighted the importance of maintaining a healthy weight for both body and mind.
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However, the latest study suggests a bit of extra fat around the waist may actually protect brain functioning.
Spare tyreThe researchers believe belly fat makes more of the female hormone oestrogen that naturally dips after the menopause.
Oestrogen is thought to help protect the brain from cognitive decline.
The study involved 8,745 post-menopausal women aged 65 to 79.
These women were asked to complete a memory test that doctors use to judge brain function. They were also weighed and measured, then scored on an obesity scale known as Body Mass Index or BMI. Over two-thirds of the women were overweight or obese.
The researchers found that for every one point increase in a woman's BMI, her memory score dropped by one point.
And pear-shaped women - those with smaller waists but bigger hips - scored particularly poorly.
The researchers say this is likely to be related to the type of fat deposited around the hips versus the waist.
Scientists already know different kinds of fat release different hormones and have varying effects on insulin resistance, lipids and blood pressure.
Lead researcher Dr Diana Kerwin said: "We need to find out if one kind of fat is more detrimental than the other, and how it affects brain function.
"The fat may contribute to the formation of plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease or a restricted blood flow to the brain."
Rebecca Wood, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Research Trust, said: "The pear-shape is incredibly common, and while this study doesn't explain fully the link between body shape and brain function, it surely makes the case for watching the scales.
"There is little we can do about our natural body shape, but a lot we can do about our weight.
"With so much evidence of the dangers of obesity, we could all do well to consider sensible lifestyle changes to keep our weight in check."
Being pear-shaped may hamper brain function, the researchers believeA woman's body shape may influence how good her memory is, according to US researchers.
Although carrying excess weight anywhere appears to impair older women's brains, carrying it on the hips may make matters worse, they say.
The Northwestern Medicine team found "apple-shaped" women fared better than "pears" on cognitive tests.
But depositing fat around the waist increases the risk of cancer, diabetes and heart disease, experts warn.
They said the findings, in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, highlighted the importance of maintaining a healthy weight for both body and mind.
“Start Quote
With so
much evidence of the dangers of obesity, we could all do well to
consider sensible lifestyle changes to keep our weight in check”
Rebecca WoodChief executive of The
Alzheimer's Research TrustSome of the health risks associated with
obesity, such as vascular disease and inflammation, may explain why
people who are overweight appear to be at higher risk of dementia.However, the latest study suggests a bit of extra fat around the waist may actually protect brain functioning.
Spare tyreThe researchers believe belly fat makes more of the female hormone oestrogen that naturally dips after the menopause.
Oestrogen is thought to help protect the brain from cognitive decline.
The study involved 8,745 post-menopausal women aged 65 to 79.
These women were asked to complete a memory test that doctors use to judge brain function. They were also weighed and measured, then scored on an obesity scale known as Body Mass Index or BMI. Over two-thirds of the women were overweight or obese.
The researchers found that for every one point increase in a woman's BMI, her memory score dropped by one point.
And pear-shaped women - those with smaller waists but bigger hips - scored particularly poorly.
The researchers say this is likely to be related to the type of fat deposited around the hips versus the waist.
Scientists already know different kinds of fat release different hormones and have varying effects on insulin resistance, lipids and blood pressure.
Lead researcher Dr Diana Kerwin said: "We need to find out if one kind of fat is more detrimental than the other, and how it affects brain function.
"The fat may contribute to the formation of plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease or a restricted blood flow to the brain."
Rebecca Wood, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Research Trust, said: "The pear-shape is incredibly common, and while this study doesn't explain fully the link between body shape and brain function, it surely makes the case for watching the scales.
"There is little we can do about our natural body shape, but a lot we can do about our weight.
"With so much evidence of the dangers of obesity, we could all do well to consider sensible lifestyle changes to keep our weight in check."
Having a big bum, hips and thighs 'is healthy'
Singer Jennifer Lopez has topped attractiveness polls with her curvesCarrying extra weight on your hips, bum and thighs is good for your health, protecting against heart and metabolic problems, UK experts have said.
Hip fat mops up harmful fatty acids and contains an anti-inflammatory agent that stops arteries clogging, they say.
Big behinds are preferable to extra fat around the waistline, which gives no such protection, the Oxford team said.
Science could look to deliberately increase hip fat, they told the International Journal of Obesity.
And in the future, doctors might prescribe ways to redistribute body fat to the hips to protect against cardiovascular and metabolic diseases such as diabetes.
The researchers said having too little fat around the hips can lead to serious metabolic problems, as occurs in Cushing's syndrome.
Shape not weight
Evidence shows that fat around the thighs and backside is harder to shift than fat around the waist.
Although this may sound undesirable, it is actually beneficial because when fat is broken down quickly it releases a lot of cytokines which trigger inflammation in the body, say experts.
These cytokines have been linked to cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance and diabetes.
Fat around the
hips and thighs is good for you but around the tummy is bad 
Lead researcher
Dr Konstantinos ManolopoulosThe slower burning hip fat also makes more of the hormone
adiponectin that protects the arteries and promotes better blood sugar
control and fat burning.
In comparison, carrying excess fat around the stomach, being "apple shaped", raises the risk of diabetes and heart disease.
Lead researcher Dr Konstantinos Manolopoulos, of Oxford University, said: "It is shape that matters and where the fat gathers.
"Fat around the hips and thighs is good for you but around the tummy is bad."
He said in an ideal world, the more fat around the thighs the better - as long as the tummy stays slim.
"Unfortunately, you tend not to get one without the other," he said.
Fotini Rozakeas of the British Heart Foundation said: "This research helps us better to understand how fat acts in the body in order to develop new approaches in reducing heart and circulatory disease.
"If you are overweight, obese, or if you have a waist size that is increased, it is important to make changes to your lifestyle, such as eating a healthy diet and doing regular physical activity, to reduce your risk of heart health problems."
Singer Jennifer Lopez has topped attractiveness polls with her curvesCarrying extra weight on your hips, bum and thighs is good for your health, protecting against heart and metabolic problems, UK experts have said.
Hip fat mops up harmful fatty acids and contains an anti-inflammatory agent that stops arteries clogging, they say.
Big behinds are preferable to extra fat around the waistline, which gives no such protection, the Oxford team said.
Science could look to deliberately increase hip fat, they told the International Journal of Obesity.
And in the future, doctors might prescribe ways to redistribute body fat to the hips to protect against cardiovascular and metabolic diseases such as diabetes.
The researchers said having too little fat around the hips can lead to serious metabolic problems, as occurs in Cushing's syndrome.
Shape not weight
Evidence shows that fat around the thighs and backside is harder to shift than fat around the waist.
Although this may sound undesirable, it is actually beneficial because when fat is broken down quickly it releases a lot of cytokines which trigger inflammation in the body, say experts.
These cytokines have been linked to cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance and diabetes.
Fat around the
hips and thighs is good for you but around the tummy is bad Lead researcher
Dr Konstantinos ManolopoulosThe slower burning hip fat also makes more of the hormone
adiponectin that protects the arteries and promotes better blood sugar
control and fat burning.In comparison, carrying excess fat around the stomach, being "apple shaped", raises the risk of diabetes and heart disease.
Lead researcher Dr Konstantinos Manolopoulos, of Oxford University, said: "It is shape that matters and where the fat gathers.
"Fat around the hips and thighs is good for you but around the tummy is bad."
He said in an ideal world, the more fat around the thighs the better - as long as the tummy stays slim.
"Unfortunately, you tend not to get one without the other," he said.
Fotini Rozakeas of the British Heart Foundation said: "This research helps us better to understand how fat acts in the body in order to develop new approaches in reducing heart and circulatory disease.
"If you are overweight, obese, or if you have a waist size that is increased, it is important to make changes to your lifestyle, such as eating a healthy diet and doing regular physical activity, to reduce your risk of heart health problems."