rupy said:
Is the location of fat on a persons 100% purely genetic, or can it be changed at all?
I know spot reduction is BS, but is there absolutely no other way it can be altered?
Mostly genetic - but alterations in hormone levels (or alterations in your reactions to those hormone levels) will alter BF distribution...
eg: High cortisol levels (especially pathologically high levels, like that seen in some diseases) will cause you to put fat on around your abdomen... Diabetes (type II) - which causes you to be resistant to the actions of insulin can do the same (that is, you will put fat on around your abdomen).... Higher levels of progesterone (and oestrogen) will mean you are more likely to put fat on around your hips and thighs, as well as in your chest...
Very high levels of testosterone can cause visceral fat deposition...
Diet can also influence distribution (mainly due to alterations in insulin sensitivity) - so, for example, diets high in saturated fats and refined carbs (esp high fructose corn syrup) will increase visceral, hepatic and abdominal fat...
Starvation and then regain can cause you to put down an 'abdominal bib' - fat which sticks to your abs and your love handles... It is pretty stubborn fat too and will only redistribute after mucho hard work...
You **can** modifiy where you lose fat to a certain extent... I can't recall the article but I remember reading something that showed that fat in different area's responds to different hormonal signals... eg: the fat around your hips and thighs is so called 'alpha adrenoreceptor fat' - that is, it will respond better to exercise which induces a VERY high level of catacholamines such as adrenaline (such as very high intensity sprinting)...
