Sex-based differences in adipose tissue distribution lead to men accumulating a higher proportion of body fat in the abdominal region and women accumulating a higher proportion in the gluteofemoral region.

Study: Sex-specific body fat distribution predicts cardiovascular ageing

This study found that men tend to carry more fat around their belly, while women carry more around their hips and thighs — just like the claim says. It also showed that these differences are real and affect heart health.

Study: Distinct developmental signatures of human abdominal and gluteal subcutaneous adipose tissue depots.

Scientists found that men and women store fat in different places because their fat cells have different genetic instructions—men’s genes make them store more fat around the belly, while women’s genes make them store more around the hips and thighs.

Study: Beyond BMI: A Mendelian Randomization Study of the Causal Effects and Mediating Pathways of Regional Adipose Tissue Depots on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

This study shows that women naturally store more fat around their hips and thighs, while men tend to store more around their belly—this is why the study found that hip/thigh fat protects women from certain health problems, supporting the idea that men and women store fat in different places.