fat thighs healthier than all-over leanness for women (study)

[NorthernSpy]

From the Boston Globe article:

Fat thighs may benefit health, say researchers
By Carey Goldberg, Globe Staff | August 13, 2005

For all the women who look down on their ample thighs with loathing: Fret no more. There is new reason to love that dimpled plumpness.

For many people, mainly women, fat on legs, hips, and buttocks may actually help ward off heart disease and diabetes, recent research suggests.

University of Colorado researchers reported this week that in a study of 95 women past menopause, being bottom-heavy was linked to better scores on several ominous markers in the blood, including triglycerides and high sugar levels. When women were also heavy above the waist, most advantages of the leg fat vanished, but thick thighs still improved their scores on triglycerides, potentially harmful fats in the blood.

(...)

And in another human study, Hamdy said, the women who had the best scores on indicators of future heart health were those with the least central-body fat and the highest percentage of peripheral fat. They even did better than those who were lean all over.

http://www.boston.com/yourlife/health/fitness/articles/2005/08/13/fat_thighs_may_benefit_health_say_researchers/

Little in the middle but she got much back: turns out that this is the shape mostly likely to signify good health.