Many notice a familiar change as they age, which is a gradual increase in waist circumference, even with the total body weight remaining stable.
This accumulation of fat in the abdominal area is not just a cosmetic problem, but also associated with a slowed metabolism, accelerated aging, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic health issues.
Scientists have long known that body composition changes with age, but the precise reason for the accumulation of fat around the abdominal area has remained unclear.
Now, researchers at the City of Hope, a leading diabetes research center, have identified what may be the main biological driver of fat accumulation in the abdominal area with age. Their findings, published in the journal Science Daily, point to a new type of stem cell that appears during aging and may contribute to the production of new fat cells.
This discovery could ultimately lead to new strategies to reduce belly fat and promote better health as one ages. Aging may lead to the emergence of specific stem cells that increase the body's ability to form new fat in the abdomen.
Extensive global research, including data analyzed by the World Health Organization, confirms that about 21.7 percent of adults worldwide (more than 1 in 5) who have a normal body mass index suffer from excess belly fat, also known as