Nutrition & Diet

Testosterone Gel Stops Dangerous Belly Fat Gain in Older Women After Hip Fracture

As we age, fat migrates from harmless subcutaneous layers into dangerous visceral deposits around internal organs, raising risks for diabetes and heart disease. A University of Connecticut study tested whether a topical testosterone gel combined with exercise could counter this shift in older women recovering from hip fractures. In a 66-person trial, women using the gel maintained stable visceral fat levels over six months, while those without the hormone saw visceral fat increase — the typical post-injury pattern. Total body fat was similar between groups, meaning the testosterone selectively targeted the dangerous fat compartment. This finding challenges blanket weight-loss strategies that also strip away muscle, and points toward hormone-assisted recovery as a smarter approach to body composition management in aging adults.