Research shows that thicker thighs and wider hips are linked to lower mortality rates, with a 5 cm increase in thigh circumference reducing death risk by 18%. While waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratios can signal health risks, fuller hips and thighs indicate beneficial fat distribution. So, if you’ve got a pear-shaped figure, embrace it—your body might be doing more for your health than you think!
In today’s culture of enhancing both beauty and body shape, many individuals who don’t have obvious physical flaws are increasingly insecure about their appearance or figure, and some even suffer from “appearance anxiety.” One of the most discussed body types is the “pear-shaped body.”
A pear-shaped body refers to a silhouette resembling the shape of a pear, where the waist is narrower compared to the wider hips, creating a disproportionate ratio between the upper and lower body. This type of body, often characterized by wider hips and narrower shoulders, can result from either genetic factors or lifestyle choices. Regardless of these factors, a pear-shaped body is still beautiful, though it can sometimes pose challenges, such as difficulty finding well-fitting pants that aren’t too tight around the hips or too loose at the waist.
However, studies show that thicker thighs and fuller hips can actually have unexpected health benefits.
A large-scale systematic review and meta-analysis published in the esteemed medical journal BMJ, which included 72 prospective cohort studies with over 2.5 million participants globally, uncovered a fascinating finding: people with larger thighs and hips tend to have a lower risk of death and may even live longer.
Specifically, an increase in thigh circumference by 5 cm is associated with an 18% reduction in overall mortality, while an increase in hip circumference by 10 cm is linked to a 10% decrease in mortality risk. It turns out that the pear-shaped body may be the secret to longevity and better health!
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m3324
BMI: Is it Truly Accurate?
Body Mass Index (BMI) is one of the most widely used and simplest methods for assessing body fat and obesity, as it only requires height and weight. However, its accuracy and effectiveness have been widely questioned. BMI cannot differentiate between lean body mass and fat, and it does not account for regional fat distribution. As a result, researchers have turned to other more specific indicators of central obesity, such as waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, waist-to-height ratio, waist-to-thigh ratio, body fat index, and body shape index, to better assess the link between obesity and mortality.
After a thorough selection process, the researchers included 72 prospective cohort studies with three or more measured indices, analyzing the health data of 2,528,297 participants. The findings revealed:
1. Waist Circumference: A 10 cm increase in waist circumference is associated with an 11% increase in overall mortality risk. Specifically, men have a risk ratio of 1.08, while women’s risk ratio is 1.12. Non-linear dose-response analysis revealed that for women, waist circumference between 60-80 cm is not significantly linked to mortality risk, but when it exceeds 80 cm, the risk sharply rises. For men, the lowest mortality rate occurs with a waist circumference of 90 cm, and the risk increases dramatically beyond this point.
Association between waist circumference and mortality risk in women
2. Waist-to-Hip Ratio: Every 0.1-unit increase in waist-to-hip ratio is associated with a 20% increase in mortality risk, with a stronger effect in women. However, no turning point was found in the non-linear analysis, and the relationship remained monotonic.
3. Waist-to-Height Ratio: Similar to waist-to-hip ratio, every 0.1-unit increase in waist-to-height ratio corresponds to a 24% increase in mortality risk. There is a clear J-shaped relationship: the mortality risk is at its lowest when the waist-to-height ratio is 0.50, and it rises steeply afterward.
Dose-response relationship between waist-to-height ratio and all-cause mortality risk
4. Waist-to-Thigh Ratio: Both male and female participants saw a 19% and 15% increase in mortality risk, respectively, with every 0.1-unit increase in waist-to-thigh ratio.
In conclusion, waist circumference is directly linked to health, as it reflects the distribution of visceral fat. A larger waist indicates more visceral fat, which increases the risk of mortality.
5. Body Fat Index: An increase in body fat index by 10% is associated with a 17% increase in mortality risk. Non-linear dose-response analysis shows a U-shaped association, with the lowest risk at a body fat index of 30%.
Association between body fat index and all-cause mortality risk
6. Thigh Circumference: Among all participants, an increase in thigh circumference by 5 cm is associated with an 18% reduction in overall mortality risk.
7. Hip Circumference: Similarly, every 10 cm increase in hip circumference is linked to a 10% decrease in overall mortality risk, with this association being particularly significant in women.
Hazard ratio for a 10-cm increase in hip circumference and all-cause mortality
In other words, having thicker thighs and a fuller bottom might actually be a symbol of health! The larger thigh and hip measurements primarily reflect beneficial muscle and fat distribution, which are advantageous for overall health. So, if you have a pear-shaped body, there's no need to feel anxious. It's not just a beautiful shape—it’s also a healthy one.