Curvy Women Live Longer
Danish researchers have provided empirical evidence that women with curves (specifically larger hips) live longer than their thin-hipped counterparts.
The Danish researchers examined almost 3,000 men and women aged between 35 and 65 from 1987 to 1988They measured height, weight and body mass index - calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by the square of your height in metres.
They then looked at Danish health registers up until the end of 1998 to look at how many of the men and women had cardiovascular problems, and up to 2001 to see how many had died.
Compared to the group of women with the smallest hip circumferences, women with the biggest were found to have an 87% reduction in deaths.
Add to that a reduced risk of both cardiovascular and heart disease.
Professor Berit Heitmann, who led the study, said: "It seems that the protection is not a matter of wide hips, it's the detrimental effect of narrow hips with a lack of muscle fat, or bone or a combination of both.
This is yet another reminder that body weight alone is a poor measure of potential health issues. As the professor herself says - both body weight and shape must be considered in tandem.
Research like this is a small voice amongst the loud abrasive calls of "You're too fat" that dominates most health reporting. Don't expect to see any changes in the magazines - flat stomachs and straight figures are the advertising norm. Women with pear-shaped or hourglass figures are often treated like some kind of semi-fat-acceptance role model.
Add Your Comment