Why Belly Fat Increases with Age

The reasons for the increase in belly fat that occurs as we age have been investigated. The study showed that a new type of stem cell that emerges with aging can accelerate fat formation in the abdominal area. Researchers found that as we age, not only do existing fat cells grow, but new fat cells are also produced more quickly. The researchers discovered that the stem cells in the fat tissue change their behavior with age. These cells, which are largely inactive in young individuals, become active from middle age onwards and begin to produce a large number of new fat cells. Prof. Qiong (Annabel) Wang, a co-author of the study, stated, "Aging triggers the emergence of a new type of stem cell in adults, which increases the production of new fat cells, especially in the abdominal area." The researchers found that with aging, some stem cells transform into a new group of cells that were previously unknown and only emerge at an advanced age. It was stated that these cells can produce many more fat cells than normal stem cells and may be one of the main causes of fat accumulation in the abdominal area.