This archive report was first published on 10 July 2019.
Published on July 10, 2019, a German study has made an intriguing discovery about the health benefits of a pear-shaped figure.
Researchers found that thin people who carry a few extra pounds on their hips and thighs may lower their risk of heart attack, stroke, and diabetes.
One in five people of normal weight who are 'metabolically unhealthy' can have an even higher risk than some fat people for these killer diseases.
However, those who are pear-shaped tend to escape this group, as the bottom and thighs are safer places to store fat on the body.
According to the study, fat stored in the hips and thighs is safer than belly fat, which is released into the bloodstream within two hours after a meal.
Dr. Norbert Stefan, the lead author of the study from the University of Tübingen, said, 'It is better for people of normal weight to be pear-shaped rather than apple-shaped, so that weight is carried on the bottom half of their body rather than around the middle.'
He added, 'The hips and thighs offer 'safe storage' for fat, stopping it from getting into the blood and reaching the organs.'
While being pear-shaped is beneficial for lean people, it does little to help overweight individuals, as their fat levels in internal organs may already be too high for this to offer extra protection.
