A type of fat that accumulates around the hips and bottom may actually offer some protection against diabetes, U.S. researchers said

They said subcutaneous fat, or fat that collects under the skin, helped to improve sensitivity to the hormone insulin

Mice that got transplants of this type of fat deep into their abdomens lost weight and their fat cells shrank, even though they made no changes in their diet or activity levels

it turns out that subcutaneous fat -- fat found just under the skin -- may be actively protecting people from metabolic disease

Dr. Ronald Kahn

started the study to find out why fat located in different parts of the body seems to have different risks of metabolic disease such as diabetes

Kahn's team is working to find the substances produced in subcutaneous fat that provide the benefit with the hope of developing a drug that might copy this effect

Although fat is known to produce several hormones, Kahn said none of the known hormones appeared to be involved in this process