Posted on 09/07/2009 1:13:34 PM PDT by 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."...
(Excerpt) Read more at denverpost.com ...
Yeah, but as you get really old, you tend to hope the Good Lord isn't making up a busload right now.
OMG! Is it real ...... or is it photoshop? I don’t want to believe those are really her thighs. I don’t believe a lot of pictures anymore, not since photoshop was invented.
I'm old enough to have to look for my teeth some mornings. And my grandkids have Facebook pages.
/johnny
Not so.. Hillary has elephant ankles.. not thighs.
...
Did the study mention anything about the healthiness of eating left wings ???
My thighs are like mighty tree trunks from bicycling...did 45 miles with the cubs in the St. Paul Classic last weekend.
Including Ramsey Hill without stopping. (My son did it in his large chainring. Showoff.)
Cheers!
NO more calls, please.
We have a winner!
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