The physiological process describing the changes in the distribution and deposition of body fat over time, particularly as influenced by hormonal and metabolic factors. This shift often involves a transition from peripheral subcutaneous fat accumulation to more central, visceral fat storage, which carries greater clinical significance. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for assessing metabolic risk and overall hormonal health.
Origin
This term originates from the convergence of endocrinology, clinical metabolism, and gerontology, fields concerned with how body composition changes with age and hormonal status. The concept is rooted in longitudinal studies observing the differential fate of adipose tissue across various life stages. It represents a clinical shorthand for the complex, hormone-mediated partitioning of fat mass.
Mechanism
The mechanism is primarily driven by alterations in sex steroid hormones, cortisol, and insulin sensitivity impacting regional adipose tissue biology. Estrogen decline in women, for instance, promotes visceral fat accumulation due to changes in local adipocyte receptor expression and lipolytic response. This hormonal milieu influences transcription factors that govern fat storage and mobilization in specific anatomical depots.
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