Differentiate between android obesity and gynoid obesity. Which is a better predictor of increased risk for disease?

Answer 1

Android obesity is seen in individuals who tend to store fat in the trunk or abdominal area (which produces the "apple" shape). Gynoid obesity is seen in people who store fat primarily around the hips and thighs (which creates the "pear" shape). Obese individuals with abdominal fat are clearly at higher risk for heart disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes ("non-insulin-dependent" diabetes), stroke, some types of cancer, kidney disease, dementia, migraines, and diminished lung function than are obese individuals with similar amounts of body fat that is stored primarily in the hips and thighs. Evidence also indicates that, among individuals with a lot of abdominal fat, those whose fat deposits are located around internal organs (intra-abdominal or abdominal visceral fat) rather than subcutaneously or retroperitoneally have an even greater risk for disease than those with fat mainly just beneath the skin (subcutaneous fat).