Heart disease, death linked to slim thighs

LA Times via Denver Post ^ | 09/05/2009 | Shari Roan

[neverdem]

Leg size may be a more accurate indicator of risks than the waistline.

We know having a large waistline is unhealthy. But larger thighs, it appears, may protect against heart disease and premature death.

A study published on BMJ.com, the website of the British Medical Journal, found that men and women whose thighs are less than 23.6 inches have a higher risk of premature death and heart disease compared with those with thighs exceeding that size. Having thighs that are even bigger, however, confers no added benefit. The study is the first to suggest that thigh size matters.

The measurement was of subjects' right thighs. It was taken as high up on the leg as possible.

The study also found that cardiovascular death risk was more strongly related to thigh circumference than to waist circumference. People with a circumference of less than 21 inches doubled their risk factor.

It seems logical that large thighs signal a higher fat content, which would be bad for cardiovascular health. So why are slender thighs worse? The authors suggest that small thighs could mean there is too little muscle mass in the region. The presence of muscle tissue influences insulin resistance and other cardiovascular risks.

The authors recommend more emphasis on lower-body workouts to strengthen legs.

"Behaviors to selectively reduce waist circumference are generally unknown," they wrote. "Thigh muscle mass, on the other hand, can be selectively increased by lower body physical activity."...

[tiki]

Don’t be surprised if I keel over, mine are 18 inches.

Honestly, I am not that skinny but I have a small bone frame.

[Cementjungle]

Michelle Obama is ahead of the curve on this one.

[bill1952]

The study is the first to suggest that thigh size matters...

Let me be the 1st to suggest that the BMJ is a joke.

[SuziQ]

But larger thighs, it appears, may protect against heart disease and premature death.

WooHoo! Here's one for the big-legged women! (with a nod to Taj Mahal)

[Ditter]

Same here! A doctor told me that because I have a lot of allergies I probably never would have cancer, now this new good news about my fat thighs.

(Why am I doubtful about this?)

I think I’ll have another cookie and think about it......

[mysterio]

Being overweight. is a personal choice that everyone has to make for themselves. However, it won't help your heart.

I lost a lot of weight. I fight every day to keep the weight off, and will continue to do so for the rest of my life. So far, so good.

[JRandomFreeper]

I'm dead meat then, skinny as I am. So I'm going for the best beer bash ever on my way out. Somebody got a light? I'm going to smoke until I die. I never expected to live forever.

/johnny

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

'But larger thighs, it appears, may protect against heart disease and premature death.'

And THAT's the reason that I cut my walk a mile short this morning; it was all for my HEALTH!
Yay!!

(well... it sure sounds better then the "I'm too tired to finish" excuse I told myself this morning!)

[Lmo56]

I guess Hillary is gonna live a long, long time ...

[skimbell]

Why the hell’d you drag Michelle and her Mama into this?

[fortunecookie]

A doctor told me that because I have a lot of allergies I probably never would have cancer, now this new good news about my fat thighs.

Really? I have lots of allergies, love that golden rod and ragweed out now. That would be good news. Now - about those cookies... ;-)

[Ditter]

Well the cookies are to plump up my thighs for more heart attack protection silly!

[Mom MD]

Then I guess I’ll live forever!

[editor-surveyor]

"But larger thighs, it appears, may protect against heart disease and premature death."

This is far from new!

This fact was well known in the mid to late '50s, and it isn't just thighs, but the entire leg.

[editor-surveyor]

" I'm with Thomas Sowell. I often look at the diet ads and think that the 'before' woman looks better than the “after” woman."

Almost universally so! - Few women look as good after losing a significant amount of weight. - They look like they have a terminal illness in the after pics.

[fortunecookie]

ROFL! That's one way...

[neverdem]

Flab and freckles could advance stem cell research

A Stem-Cell Discovery Could Help Diabetics

Breakthrough in fight against diabetes

Two soft drinks a day may lead to long term liver damage

FReepmail me if you want on or off my health and science ping list.

[Ancient Drive]

Not so.. Hillary has elephant ankles.. not thighs.

[Ole Okie]

Good Lord! That one needs a bunch of square meals.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

You don’t need a doctor to do that.