Abdominal obesity is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus and all-cause mortality, whereas gluteofemoral obesity has opposing associations. In this Review Fredrik Karpe and Katherine Pinnick discuss the developmental and functional differences between upper-body and lower-body fat depots and provide mechanistic insight into the disease-protective effects of lower-body fat.
- Fredrik Karpe
- Katherine E. Pinnick
