Body Fat Distribution (Android/ Gynoid Distribution):
There are two major types of fat distribution in adult obesity. Some adults store their fat
primarily in the abdomen, producing an (apple) shape known as android distribution this is
found in both sexes. In the second type adults store their fat mainly around the hips and thighs.
Which gives them a (pear) shape known as gynoid distribution; this is characteristic of women.
Figure 2. Fat Distribution. (A) Android, Abdominal fat distribution –apple shape-. (B)Gynoid ,
Hips & Thighs fat distribution-pear shape-.
The android type can also be seen in mildly overweight people and is important to document as
it is more closely related to disease risk than the BMI alone . To check for abdominal obesity
one measures the waist-hip ratio.
The distribution of this fat regionally in the body has an important effect on the mortality of
obese individuals . A number of studies have demonstrated excess mortality associated with a
central or android distribution of body fat.
Generally, central obesity reflects high levels of intra-abdominal or visceral fat. This pattern of
obesity is associated with an increased prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors such as
hyperlipidemia and glucose intolerance. These risk factors in part explain the high
cardiovascular mortality rate of these individuals. In contrast a gynecoid distribution of fat with
low waist to hip ratio (WHR) or low waist circumference (WC) has a lower risk of mortality for the
same degree of adiposity. Clinically, WC is the narrowest circumference measured in the area
between the last rib and the top of the iliac crest .The hip measurement is the maximal
circumference around the buttocks.
Central obesity is associated with increased risks when WHR is 1.0 or more for men or 0.9 or
more for females. WC is an easier measurement to obtain in the clinical setting and is also
independently associated with increased risks when 40 or more inches for males or 35 or more
inches for females.
Male and female fat distribution:
Body fat has two components; storage fat and central or essential fat.
Storage fat accumulates in adipose tissue, which form fatty tissues that protect the internal
organs from truama. In men, it contributes 12% of the body weight while in women it is 15%.
Essential fat, which is required for normal physiological function and it’s stored in the bone
marrow, heart, liver, spleen, intestine, muscles and lipid-rich tissue throughout the central
nervous system. The reference man has 3% essential fat while the reference woman has 12%
essential fat.
One hypothesis, known as (the critical fat hypothesis) postulate that 17% of the female body
weight is critical body weight for the onset and regulation of menstrual cycle. Below this level,
hormones that affect menses are adversely affected. On other hand, the cycling of
progesterone and estrogen in women also influences fat cells, because estrogen increase the
number of progesterone receptors which in turn promote lipogenesis. The greater proportion of
muscle men allows them to burn kcal. at faster rate and rapidly weight loss than women .
Because there are more break down of protein and loss of water. The reason of that is smaller
body size of women and lower aerobic capacity. It means, she expends less energy than
average man for any physical activity. Studies of adrenergic receptors distribution in adipose
tissue demonstrate high number of alpha receptors in femoral and glutial regions compared
with the abdominal region. These alpha receptors, through the action of catecholamines inhibit
lipolysis.
There are other classifications of obesity:
1- obesity grade I: most of the ‘do-it-yourself’ slimmers are in this grade. Their overweight has
not affected their health and they are able to lead their normal lives.
2- obesity grade II: patients in this grade form the majority of cases treated by doctors and
dietitians. Although some of them appear to be in good health and leading normal lives, they
are likely to have a reduced exercise tolerance with shortness of breath on exertion and to be
unduly fatigued by containing physical activity.
This is due to the burden of the increased weight that they carry always and to reduced
capacity of the circulatory and respiratory systems that work under handicaps imposed by
masses of internal fat and fatty infiltration of muscle.
For mechanical and metabolic reasons these patients are at increased risk of one or more of
the disorders such as diabetes, hypertension, gall bladder diseases, fatty liver, gout,
pulmonary disorders, osteoarthrities, hernias, varicose veins, intertriginous dermatitis.
They often first seek medical advice because of symptoms that have arisen from one if these,
and it may be only than that they realise that their obesity is something to be taken seriously.
Mortality rates rise with increasing weight and life expectation becomes reduced to from a half
to a third of the normal number of years. They are also at increased risk when under
anaesthesia; surgical operations are more difficult and post-operative complications are more
likely.
Obesity grade III: these patients are pathetic creatures. Their every day activities are seriously
restricted by their enormous mass, and they are likely to be suffering from many of the
disorders. Life expectation is low. Usually they have serious psychological disturbances. These
may have been present in the initial stages of the disease and contributed to its development
There are two major types of fat distribution in adult obesity. Some adults store their fat
primarily in the abdomen, producing an (apple) shape known as android distribution this is
found in both sexes. In the second type adults store their fat mainly around the hips and thighs.
Which gives them a (pear) shape known as gynoid distribution; this is characteristic of women.
Figure 2. Fat Distribution. (A) Android, Abdominal fat distribution –apple shape-. (B)Gynoid ,
Hips & Thighs fat distribution-pear shape-.
The android type can also be seen in mildly overweight people and is important to document as
it is more closely related to disease risk than the BMI alone . To check for abdominal obesity
one measures the waist-hip ratio.
The distribution of this fat regionally in the body has an important effect on the mortality of
obese individuals . A number of studies have demonstrated excess mortality associated with a
central or android distribution of body fat.
Generally, central obesity reflects high levels of intra-abdominal or visceral fat. This pattern of
obesity is associated with an increased prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors such as
hyperlipidemia and glucose intolerance. These risk factors in part explain the high
cardiovascular mortality rate of these individuals. In contrast a gynecoid distribution of fat with
low waist to hip ratio (WHR) or low waist circumference (WC) has a lower risk of mortality for the
same degree of adiposity. Clinically, WC is the narrowest circumference measured in the area
between the last rib and the top of the iliac crest .The hip measurement is the maximal
circumference around the buttocks.
Central obesity is associated with increased risks when WHR is 1.0 or more for men or 0.9 or
more for females. WC is an easier measurement to obtain in the clinical setting and is also
independently associated with increased risks when 40 or more inches for males or 35 or more
inches for females.
Male and female fat distribution:
Body fat has two components; storage fat and central or essential fat.
Storage fat accumulates in adipose tissue, which form fatty tissues that protect the internal
organs from truama. In men, it contributes 12% of the body weight while in women it is 15%.
Essential fat, which is required for normal physiological function and it’s stored in the bone
marrow, heart, liver, spleen, intestine, muscles and lipid-rich tissue throughout the central
nervous system. The reference man has 3% essential fat while the reference woman has 12%
essential fat.
One hypothesis, known as (the critical fat hypothesis) postulate that 17% of the female body
weight is critical body weight for the onset and regulation of menstrual cycle. Below this level,
hormones that affect menses are adversely affected. On other hand, the cycling of
progesterone and estrogen in women also influences fat cells, because estrogen increase the
number of progesterone receptors which in turn promote lipogenesis. The greater proportion of
muscle men allows them to burn kcal. at faster rate and rapidly weight loss than women .
Because there are more break down of protein and loss of water. The reason of that is smaller
body size of women and lower aerobic capacity. It means, she expends less energy than
average man for any physical activity. Studies of adrenergic receptors distribution in adipose
tissue demonstrate high number of alpha receptors in femoral and glutial regions compared
with the abdominal region. These alpha receptors, through the action of catecholamines inhibit
lipolysis.
There are other classifications of obesity:
1- obesity grade I: most of the ‘do-it-yourself’ slimmers are in this grade. Their overweight has
not affected their health and they are able to lead their normal lives.
2- obesity grade II: patients in this grade form the majority of cases treated by doctors and
dietitians. Although some of them appear to be in good health and leading normal lives, they
are likely to have a reduced exercise tolerance with shortness of breath on exertion and to be
unduly fatigued by containing physical activity.
This is due to the burden of the increased weight that they carry always and to reduced
capacity of the circulatory and respiratory systems that work under handicaps imposed by
masses of internal fat and fatty infiltration of muscle.
For mechanical and metabolic reasons these patients are at increased risk of one or more of
the disorders such as diabetes, hypertension, gall bladder diseases, fatty liver, gout,
pulmonary disorders, osteoarthrities, hernias, varicose veins, intertriginous dermatitis.
They often first seek medical advice because of symptoms that have arisen from one if these,
and it may be only than that they realise that their obesity is something to be taken seriously.
Mortality rates rise with increasing weight and life expectation becomes reduced to from a half
to a third of the normal number of years. They are also at increased risk when under
anaesthesia; surgical operations are more difficult and post-operative complications are more
likely.
Obesity grade III: these patients are pathetic creatures. Their every day activities are seriously
restricted by their enormous mass, and they are likely to be suffering from many of the
disorders. Life expectation is low. Usually they have serious psychological disturbances. These
may have been present in the initial stages of the disease and contributed to its development
Fat Burn
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- Classification of Obesity
Read more about obesity
Classification of Obesity
Basic Methods for
Measurement of Obesity
Epidemiology of Obesity
Etiology of Obesity
Behavioral Change
Classification of Obesity
Basic Methods for
Measurement of Obesity
Epidemiology of Obesity
Etiology of Obesity
Behavioral Change