Scientists find a way to stop dangerous belly fat as we age

Most body fat is subcutaneous, meaning it sits just beneath the skin. This type of fat is generally not harmful and is actually necessary for overall health. Visceral fat is different. It builds up deep inside the abdomen and surrounds internal organs, and it has been strongly linked to serious conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.

The Role of Hormones in Dangerous Fat Gain

Scientists have found that hormones, especially testosterone, play an important role in how fat is redistributed over time.

"As men and women age, there's an unhealthy redistribution of fat from the more innocuous regions into the visceral compartment," Jacob Earp, assistant professor of kinesiology in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR) says. "There is a direct link between sex hormones and fat distribution throughout the body."

Traditional weight loss approaches are not designed to target visceral fat specifically. Instead, they reduce overall body weight, which can create new concerns for older adults.

"Doing these blanket weight loss strategies is not always the healthiest approach, especially because muscle weight will be lost along with fat and maintaining muscle is extremely important as we age," Earp says.

Study Explores Testosterone Gel and Exercise

Earp led a new study examining whether a topical testosterone gel could help older women recovering from hip fractures when combined with exercise.

The findings were published in Obesity Pillars.

Hip fractures are a major health issue for older women. They occur nearly three times more often in women than in men and are a leading cause of lost independence. Reduced mobility after such injuries can also raise the risk of additional health problems and further injury.

Inside the Clinical Trial

The study followed 66 women over the age of 65 who were recovering from a recent hip fracture. Before starting the trial, each participant received a DXA scan to assess body composition.

All participants completed a structured exercise program. However, only one group was given the testosterone gel as part of their treatment.

Results Show Targeted Reduction in Visceral Fat

After six months, follow-up scans showed that overall body fat levels remained similar in both groups. However, a key difference emerged in fat distribution.

Women who used the testosterone gel had lower levels of visceral fat. In contrast, the group that did not receive the hormone experienced an increase in visceral fat, which is typically seen during recovery from a hip fracture.

"If you have injury and just generally as we age, we expect an increase in visceral fat," Earp says. "This really bucked that trend and caused selective reduction of fat in that visceral compartment."

A Promising Path for Recovery and Healthy Aging

The findings suggest a potential new approach to improving recovery and long-term health outcomes for older women after serious injuries.

"These are devastating injuries that most women don't ever recover from," Earp says. "In this case, any kind of intervention that can have a beneficial effect on health, you could potentially have a huge improvement in quality of life for the individual."