Cardiovascular disease: large thighs cushion risk
11 September 2009
Women — and men — around the world have finally been given reason to celebrate having larger thighs after a study found bigger thighs protect against cardiovascular disease and premature death.
Danish researchers found that, among 2800 men and women, those with thighs measuring 60 cm or less in circumference had an increased risk of premature death, cardiovascular and coronary heart diseases (BMJ online first). Those with the lowest recorded circumference (46 cm) had more than twice the mortality risk of those with a 55 cm measurement.
The researchers suggested that the risk from narrow thighs might be associated with too little muscle mass in the region.
Associate Professor Ian Scott, director of internal medicine at Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra Hospital, said in an editorial that there would be intriguing public health implications if randomised trials showed decreased cardiovascular risk after thigh muscle mass was increased through physical activity.
Last Reviewed: 11 September 2009
- 1. Heitmann BL, Frederiksen P. Thigh circumference and risk of heart disease and premature death: prospective cohort study. BMJ 2009; 339: b3292
