Bellies Are Good For Women?

Bellies Are Good For Women?

Ladies, don't feel bad about your muffin top anymore; your 'extras'could actually be good for you! Most of us carry around a bit of tummy weight and while we wish it would just go away, researchers have some good news for you. Women with bellies are less likely to break bones than those with toned tummies!

Ahem, this only applies for the girls. Boys, as suspected, your beer guts do you no good at all. The study conducted by the Garvan Institute of Medical Research in Sydney, Australia, covered the health of more than 1,000 men and women above age 50. Throughout an average of five years, it was reported that 19 men and 107 women broke a bone.

The researchers believed they found a link between big bellies and breaks in women, taking into account the amount of abs fat. The findings published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology states that 25 percent of women with fattest middles were 40 percent less likely to break a bone than those with the flattest midriffs.

A theory is that the fats placed an extra force on the bones which helps strengthen them, plus the fats could actually provide valuable padding if one falls. But researchers said the most likely explanation is the female oestrogen. Women who store fat around the middle tend to have higher levels of oestrogen which is good for the bones. They said this finding could help explain the global phenomenon where the number of fractures has gone down while obesity rates have risen.

However, do note that fat stored around the middle may not be all good. Ladies, you are at greater risk of heart disease and diabetes. So beware! Most of us carry around a bit of tummy weight and while we wish it would just go away, researchers have some good news for you. Women with bellies are less likely to break bones than those with toned tummies!