0 All Fats are not Created Equal

Fats consist of a wide group of compounds that are generally soluble in organic solvents and generally insoluble in water. Chemically, fats are triglycerides, triesters of glycerol and any of several fatty acids. Fats may be either solid or liquid at room temperature, depending on their structure and composition.

There are different ways to be fat, and one way is more dangerous than the other. Obese patients can be classified into two categories. Android, a male type of adipose tissue distribution,and gynoid, a female type distribution of adipose tissue measured as the ratio  of waist circumference to hip circumference. Android obesity is characterized by abdominal fat distribution or upper body obesity, where as the gynoid obesity is characterized by fat distribution in hips anad thighs. Females can have android obesity or male can have gynoid obesity.

Android obesity is associated with a number of disorders, including insulin resistance, hypertension, coronary heart disease, and stroke. Gynoid obesity is not associated with high risk for these disorders. Because android obesity is associated with increased risk for the disease, it is more important for the overweight individuals with this type of adipose distribution to reduce their fat stores.