Big bums may protect against diabetes

According to Ronald Khan and colleagues, the type of fat that collects around the buttocks and hips may offer some protection against diabetes. We know that fat that accumulates in the belly raises the risk of diabetes and heart disease, while people who have less belly fat and more around their hips - so-called pear-shapes - have a lower risk of these diseases.

Working on mice, Kahn and colleagues gave mice transplants of fat from around the hips and buttock deep into their abdomens. The mice lost weigh and their fat cells shrank, without changes in diet or activity. Subcutaneous fat, that collects under the skin, also appears to have a protective effect. Mice that were given subcutaneous fat transplanted into their bellies started to slim down after several weeks, and also showed improved blood sugar and insulin levels compared to mice that underwent a sham procedure.

The team are trying to find the substances produced in subcutaneous fat that provide the benefit as this could lead to the development of new drugs which mimic this effect.