Health Alert / Scientists Discover Targeted Way to Reduce Dangerous Belly Fat in Older Women
·4 days ago·2 min read
Key Points
Aging often shifts fat toward the belly, raising risks for diabetes and heart disease. But new research shows that combining testosterone gel with exercise can help older women recovering from hip fractures reduce dangerous visceral fat-without losing muscle. This breakthrough could transform recovery and improve quality of life after one of the most devastating injuries later in life.
New Delhi, Mar 28: As people age, body fat doesn’t just increase, it shifts. This redistribution, driven by subtle hormonal changes, often results in more visceral fat accumulating deep in the abdomen. Unlike subcutaneous fat under the skin, visceral fat surrounds internal organs and is strongly linked to diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic conditions.
Researchers at the University of Connecticut, United States, have uncovered a promising new way to address this issue in older women. Led by Jacob Earp, assistant professor of kinesiology, the study explored whether testosterone gel combined with exercise could reduce harmful belly fat during recovery from hip fractures.
Hip fractures are a serious health concern, occurring nearly three times more often in women than men. Recovery is often complicated by reduced mobility, loss of independence, and increased risk of further illness. Standard weight loss strategies, while effective at lowering overall body weight, can inadvertently strip away muscle mass-something older adults critically need to maintain strength and independence.
The study, published in Obesity Pillars, followed 66 women over age 65 who had recently suffered hip fractures. All participants engaged in therapeutic exercise, but only one group received topical testosterone gel. After six months, scans revealed a striking difference: women who used testosterone showed reduced visceral fat, while those in the control group experienced the typical increase seen during recovery.
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Importantly, overall body fat levels remained unchanged between groups, meaning the intervention specifically targeted visceral fat without compromising muscle preservation.
“This really bucked the trend,” Earp explained. “Instead of the expected increase in visceral fat, we saw a selective reduction, which could have major implications for recovery and long-term health.”
The findings suggest that combining hormone therapy with exercise may offer a safer, more effective approach to recovery in older women, potentially improving quality of life after devastating injuries. While more research is needed, this targeted method could reshape how clinicians address fat distribution and muscle preservation in aging populations.
Researchers at the University of Connecticut, United States, have uncovered a promising new way to address this issue in older women. Led by Jacob Earp, assistant professor of kinesiology, the study explored whether testosterone gel combined with exercise could reduce harmful belly fat during recovery from hip fractures.
Hip fractures are a serious health concern, occurring nearly three times more often in women than men. Recovery is often complicated by reduced mobility, loss of independence, and increased risk of further illness. Standard weight loss strategies, while effective at lowering overall body weight, can inadvertently strip away muscle mass-something older adults critically need to maintain strength and independence.
The study, published in Obesity Pillars, followed 66 women over age 65 who had recently suffered hip fractures. All participants engaged in therapeutic exercise, but only one group received topical testosterone gel. After six months, scans revealed a striking difference: women who used testosterone showed reduced visceral fat, while those in the control group experienced the typical increase seen during recovery.
Read More: Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi Seeks Lord Jagannath's Blessings In Puri
Importantly, overall body fat levels remained unchanged between groups, meaning the intervention specifically targeted visceral fat without compromising muscle preservation.
“This really bucked the trend,” Earp explained. “Instead of the expected increase in visceral fat, we saw a selective reduction, which could have major implications for recovery and long-term health.”
The findings suggest that combining hormone therapy with exercise may offer a safer, more effective approach to recovery in older women, potentially improving quality of life after devastating injuries. While more research is needed, this targeted method could reshape how clinicians address fat distribution and muscle preservation in aging populations.
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