What does Android and Gynoid mean in the Advanced model for body fat?

Styku's Advanced body composition model reports fat stored in two distinct anatomical regions — android and gynoid — to give practitioners insight into fat distribution patterns alongside total body fat.

Android and Gynoid Regions

Android region — the midsection of the torso, in the waist area, under the rib cage.
Gynoid region — the lower torso, in the hip area, down to the top of the thighs.

Android Fat Distribution

Android fat storage describes the distribution of fat mostly around the trunk/abdomen area (referred to as "central" fat storage), or the central torso region of the body. Excess android fat produces an "apple" shape where the waist is larger than the hips.

Android fat is not stored subcutaneously to the levels that gynoid fat is — it accumulates more viscerally, in and around the organs located in the peritoneal cavity (abdominal cavity). This can compress and restrict blood flow to vital organs and contribute to insulin resistance through changes in hormone profile.

Excess fat in this region is associated with obesity-related diseases including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.

Gynoid Fat Distribution

A gynoid fat pattern is characterized by the accumulation of excess fat around the hip, buttock, and thigh regions. Excess gynoid fat produces a "pear" shape where the hips and buttocks are larger than the waist.

This distribution is typical in females (the term "gynoid" relates to the female form). Gynoid fat is generally stored subcutaneously — on the surface of the body, just under the skin and above the muscle.

Excess fat levels here may motivate clients to reduce them for aesthetic reasons, but the immediate health risk from obesity-related disease is significantly lower than for android fat.

How to Interpret in a Client Consultation

Android and gynoid mass values have no defined "good" or "bad" ranges — lower android mass is generally better, and the trend over time matters more than the absolute number.
Use these metrics alongside visceral fat area, waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio for a more complete picture of fat distribution and associated health risk.
Two clients with the same total body fat percentage can have very different health risk profiles depending on whether their fat distribution is android- or gynoid-dominant.

Applies to: Styku configurations using the Advanced body composition model.

Related Resources

What does Styku measure, and what data do clients receive after a scan?
What body composition metrics appear on page 2 of the Styku Summary Scan Report?
What do the body composition metrics in a Styku scan mean?
What is waist shape and why does it matter for health risk assessment?