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A new study has shown that having larger thighs may protect people from heart disease and premature death, but how valid is the study?
Although past research determined that a waist over 88.9cm (35in) for a woman and 101.6cm (40in) for a man indicates an elevated risk of diabetes and heart disease, a new study suggests that thigh circumference is a more accurate indicator (news.bbc.com), . However, when it comes to thighs, unlike with waists, bigger is better. Relationship Between Thigh Size and HealthAccording to news.bbc.com, a study conducted in Denmark at Copenhagen University Hospital and published in the British Medical Journal concluded that people with thigh measurements over 60cm (23.6in) are at lower risk of heart disease and early death than people with smaller thighs. Researchers tracked the occurrence of heart disease for 10 years and death for 12-and-a-half years in a total of 3,000 subjects. During this time, “257 men and 155 women died, 263 men and 140 women developed cardiovascular disease, and 103 men and 34 women suffered from heart disease” (news.bbc.com). Moreover, the risk of health issues and premature death more than doubled for subjects with the smallest thighs (below 55cm or 21.5in); and the relationship between thigh size and health remained even when body fat, smoking, and cholesterol levels were factored into the equation. Researchers ultimately concluded that people with small thighs may not have enough muscle mass to deal with insulin properly, which raises their risk of diabetes and, in turn, heart disease; therefore, people with smaller thighs should increase muscle mass through exercise. Increasing Muscle MassIn order to increase muscle mass in thighs and, consequently, their size, people can undertake an exercise regimen. There are, however, two factors that can affect the results and, therefore, must be considered: body type and weight. Three Different Body TypesThere are three different body types: Endomorph, Mesomorph, and Ectomorph. Of course, some people are a composite of two or even all three types.
Note: If the results of the study are accurate, then it appears that ectomorphs, being slimmer and with smaller thighs, will experience more health problems and earlier deaths than mesomorphs or endomorphs, even though countless studies have shown that thinner people are generally healthier and live longer than heavier people. Body Weight and Thigh SizeSomeone who is overweight will naturally have larger thighs than someone who is either an ideal weight or underweight. For example, consider these two women:
Based upon the study in the British Medical Journal, Nancy is more likely to experience a heart attack and/or die prematurely than Valerie; therefore, Nancy needs to gain muscle mass to increase the size of her thighs. Exercise Thighs and Increase Muscle MassAlthough any exercise will increase muscle mass, as well as tone the body, at least to a degree, the best exercise for enlarging thighs is strength training, specifically squats and leg presses. Yet, according to Dr. C. M. Rzadkiewicz, who has trained several bodybuilders and also works out religiously himself, it would be impossible for Nancy to gain 3.6 inches in her thighs, regardless of the number of squats and presses she performed, except under two conditions:
In conclusion, since increasing one’s thigh size isn’t especially easy and has certain inherent health risks, perhaps people with small thighs should take the study’s findings with the proverbial grain of salt. Moreover, the researchers apparently agree since, according to news.bbc.com, they “cautioned that the research needed corroborating” and that “it was too early to change current advice on eating and exercise for heart health.” Sources: “Large Thighs May Protect Heart,” Friday, 4 September 2009, news.bbc.com Rzadkiewicz, C. M., Personal Interview; Lafayette, Louisiana; September 5, 2009 Weight Management, Body Types; retrieved September 6, 2009 from snac.ucla.edu
The copyright of the article Larger Thighs Mean Longer Lives in Healthcare Research is owned by Carol Rzadkiewicz. Permission to republish Larger Thighs Mean Longer Lives in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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