That beer gut could contribute to bone loss, but so can liver and muscle fat.
Excess fat in the liver, muscles, and blood have been linked to higher concentrations of fat in the bone marrow, which can lead to osteoporosis, a Radiology Society of North America press release reported.
Scientists used proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy technology (a fat-measuring system), to examine 106 people between the ages of 19 and 45. All of the study participants were considered obese, but did not have any other known health problems.
The study concluded people with more muscle and liver fat had higher fat contents in their bone marrow as well, which was not related to body mass index or diet and exercise.
The "good" type of cholesterol believe to promote heart health was inversely related to the fat content.
The type of fat found in the blood called Triglycerides were found to have a positive correlation with the bone marrow fat.
"Obesity was once thought to be protective against bone loss. We have found that this is not true," study lead author Miriam A. Bredella, M.D., a radiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital and associate professor of radiology at Harvard Medical School in Boston, said
The study looked at fat in the spongy stem cell-producing bone marrow. Past studies have only looked at the correlation between "visceral fat and bone marrow density."
"In our study, we focused on bone marrow fat because that is where our stem cells can develop into osteoblasts-the cells responsible for bone formation-or fat cells," Dr. Bredella said. "We also wanted to look at the relationship between bone marrow fat and other fat components, such as those in the liver and muscles,"
Excess bone marrow fat can lead to a higher risk of breaks and fractures.
"Bone marrow fat makes bones weak," Bredella said. "If you have a spine that's filled with fat, it's not going to be as strong."
