UK researchers suggest that where your body stores fat may influence your risk for heart problems and metabolic disorders more than how much you weigh. According to researcher Dr. Konstantinos Manolopoulos of Oxford University, “It is shape that matters and where the fat gathers.”

Manolopulos believes that having fat stores around the hip, thigh, and buttocks is preferable to fat around the abdomen. The fat stored in your hips can actually mop up harmful fatty acids. Hip fat also contains an anti-inflammatory agent that can prevent clogged arteries.

Researchers also pointed out that the fat on our backsides and thighs is more difficult to break down than belly fat, which can be a surprisingly good thing for your health. When fat breaks down quickly, as it can around the waistline, it releases cytokines that have been linked to cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, and diabetes. In addition to producing less cytokines, our hip fat produces more of the hormone adiponectin. This hormone can actually promote better health by protecting the arteries and helping regulate blood sugar.

According to Manolopoulos, the more fat around the thighs, the better, as long as the tummy stays slim.

Of course, the problem is that it’s nearly impossible to make sure you only accumulate fat in your thighs while avoiding weight gain in our abdomen.

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If you’ve been reading about ways to lose weight, you may have heard the term “emotional eating” used as a common reason some people struggle to lose weight. What is emotional eating, and could you be an emotional eater?

Emotional eating, as the name suggests, occurs when you reach for food in response to an emotion rather than a physical hunger for food. Emotional eating may happen in response to stress, depression, anxiety, boredom, anger, or loneliness. The problem with eating in response to emotions instead of hunger is that you tend to take in more calories than you need, and often from foods that are unhealthy. Managing your calorie intake and losing weight can be very difficult if your emotions, instead of your body’s need for fuel, trigger your desire to eat.

Are you an emotional eater?

To find out if you’re an emotional eater, try keeping a food journal. Keep track of when you eat, what you eat, and how you’re feeling when you eat. Do you notice that you tend to eat when a specific emotion surfaces? Do you find yourself eating more in certain social situations or during certain activities, like watching TV? Many people are unaware that they’re emotional eaters because the habit is so ingrained and the need to eat is so strong that it actually feels like physical hunger.

If you suspect that you’re an emotional eater, make a list of other ways you can cope with the emotions that tend to trigger eating. For example, you might need to do relaxation techniques to handle stress or find another activity to do when you’re bored.

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