Why Does Fat Go to a Man's Belly and a Women's Hips and Thighs?

In general, men tend to become apple-shaped, storing their fat in the abdominal areas, but maintain normal hips and thighs. Women on the other hand, tend to become pear-shaped, storing their fat lower down in their hips and thighs. Why is this? For research Steven R. Smith, M.D., director at the Sanford-Burnham Translation Research Institute for Metabolism and Diabetes, this simple truth was worth investigating. He found that the placement of fat storage in the body is genetic. Furthermore, belly fat is associated with higher risks of heart disease and diabetes, while hip and thigh fat is not.