The shape of your behind could mean more than how it fits your favourite pair of jeans. In fact, scientists are now telling us that the shape of your butt could tell you more about your metabolic health than you realise. Researchers from the University of Westminster in the UK discovered that the shape of the gluteus maximus muscle in the buttocks changes with age, lifestyle, frailty, gender, and certain conditions like osteoporosis and type 2 diabetes. The research was presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
What the gluteus maximus reveals about your health
An often-overlooked part of your body, your butt, may hold crucial clues about your health. The researchers used advanced MRI techniques to understand how the shape of your behind changes depending on your health. They found that the shape of the muscle, rather than its size or fat content alone, may reflect underlying metabolic changes. The MRI 3D mapping revealed the distinct, sex-specific patterns in the gluteus maximus that were associated with type 2 diabetes.“Unlike past studies that mainly looked at muscle size or fat, we used 3D shape mapping to pinpoint exactly where the muscle changes, giving a much more detailed picture,” study co-author Marjola Thanaj, Ph.D., a senior research fellow at the University of Westminster’s Research Centre for Optimal Health, said.
Why gluteus maximus matter
You may not necessarily know it, but the gluteus maximus is one of the largest muscles in the human body. This muscle plays a key role in the metabolic health, according to the lead author of the study, E. Louise Thomas, Ph.D., professor of metabolic imaging at the University of Westminster’s School of Life Sciences.
What they found
The researchers looked at the data from 61,290 MRI exams housed in the UK Biobank database and examined how MRI analysis can characterize the muscle’s structural features and composition.The UK Biobank data also included volunteers’ physical measurements, demographics, disease biomarkers, medical history and answers to lifestyle questionnaires, along with the medical images. The researchers were able to analyse 86 different variables and map how they’re associated with changes in muscle shape over time.“People with higher fitness, as measured by vigorous physical activity and hand grip strength, had a greater gluteus maximus shape, while aging, frailty and long sitting times were linked to muscle thinning,” Dr. Thanaj said.The researchers noted that in type 2 diabetes patients, men showed muscle shrinkage, while women showed enlarged muscle. This was likely due to infiltration of fat within the muscle. Men categorized as ‘frail’ had more general shrinkage across the gluteus maximus, whereas the effect of frailty was limited to smaller areas in women.The researchers concluded that men and women have very different biological responses to the same disease. “Shape changes in the gluteus maximus may indicate early functional decline and metabolic compromise in people with type 2 diabetes—reflecting sex-specific differences in response to insulin tolerance that require further study,” the researchers said.Note: The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any new medication or treatment, or before changing your diet or supplement regimen.
