- New research says big-bottomed women are healthier than apple-shaped ones
- Conclusion could mean end of body mass index (BMI)
- Method is flawed as it doesn’t take into account differing heights
By Fiona Macrae Science Correspondent
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Fruity: Women with pear-shaped figures like Kate Winslet are healthier than their apple-shaped counterparts, according to research
It may not help when it comes to squeezing into skinny jeans or slipping on a slinky dress.
But it seems having a big bottom could offer some benefits â€" at least when it comes to health.
Women with pear-shaped figures are healthier than their apple-shaped counterparts, according to research.
Or in other words, those with a defined waist and shapely derriere like Kate Winslet are better off than those with a small bottom who are plumper around the middle.
Former government adviser Dr Margaret Ashwell worked with a nutritionist from Oxford Brookes University to review data from dozens of studies on the best method of judging someone’s health from their vital statistics.
And their conclusion could mean the end of the body mass index, or BMI â€" a mathematical formula linking weight to height which has been in widespread use since the early 1970s.
However, this formula fails to distinguish between fat and muscle, meaning some athletes are classed as obese.
An alternative measure of health is waist circumference, which is considered important because fat that gathers around the stomach is known to be particularly harmful.
Not only does it produce more dangerous chemicals, but it is also closer to the body’s vital organs than flab on the bottom, hips and thighs.
But this method is flawed too, as it doesn’t take into account differing heights. So the solution, says Dr Ashwell, who runs independent consultancy Ashwell Associates, is to look at waist measurement in comparison to height.
Healthy prospects: With their well-defined derrieres Beyonce and Jennifer Lopez are also considered a healthy pear-shape
Her analysis of 31 studies involving 300,000 men and women from around the world showed doing this to be a better predictor of health than either BMI or waist circumference.
As a rule of thumb, we should aim to keep our waist circumference measurement to under half that of our height.
So, a woman who is 5ft 4in should try to keep her waist below 32in and a man who is 5ft 10in shouldn’t let his waistband exceed 35in.
Any bigger than this and their shape starts to turn from pear-like to apple-like.
Using waist to height as a measure should pick up potential illnesses quicker than BMI and is also suitable for all ages and all ethnicities. Dr
Ashwell told the European Congress on Obesity in Lyon: ‘Keeping your waist circumference to less than half of your height could help increase life expectancy for every person in the world.
Streamline: Among the famous apple shapes with less-defined waists are actresses Catherine Zeta-Jones and Elizabeth Hurley
‘You can measure it in centimetres, inches, miles, anything you want. It’s super-simple.’
Pear-shaped celebrities, who are wider below the waist, include actress Kate Winslet and singers Jennifer Lopez and Beyonce.
Among the apples, with less-defined waists, are singer Adele, model Elizabeth Hurley and actress Catherine Zeta-Jones. Dr Ashwell’s system of measuring has another advantage.
Those people whose waist is bigger than it should be can take heart.
Fat from around the tummy is usually the first to go when we start a diet.
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When it comes to men, the size of their p e nis is important to us gals. We don't want little tiddlers. Just sayin.
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how do you group Adele with Liz Hurley and Caterine Zeta Jones? The latter women are slim with flat stomachs, they are not shaped like apples! They may not carry a lot of weight in their behinds, but they don't carry any in their stomachs either, and I thought stomach weight was the most dangerous. stupid article
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One thing is clear most people on here don't seem to understand what pear/apple shape means. It is about proportions nothing to do with weight. You can have fat pear shaped and thin pear shaped it just means bigger on the bottom than on the top. Apple shaped means no defined waist so naturally carrying more weight at the waist. Both shapes can be any weight.
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Kate Winslet is not pear shaped, she is more an hour glass. Pear shapes have very small upper bodies, small boobs and bigger lower halves.
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Really. Liz Hurley an apple shape? Sweet jesus what hope does anyone have.....
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I'm a curvy hourglass figure and sexy too, beat that!! - Victoria Knapp, Newport U.K., 12/05/2012 12:35 All men gaze upon my beauty and weep. All women are choked with envy at my perfection. Beat that !!
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This article is both old news and just wrong. Pear is better than apple because it's best not to have fat around your vital organs - ery old news. The BMI equation quoted is wrong. Waist measure to height??? Where's the weight element - that isnt BMI - BMI is weight in kg divided by height squared in metres. It's not perfect but its a good enough indication for most people - trouble is most people dont want to believe it so start talking about how it doesn't work for athletes as if that mattered.
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As long the butt is not much larger that a natural chest then those girls are considered attractive by most of the guys. When the butt is enormous and the natural chest is rather flat then those girls likely do not get a second admiring look by most of the guys.
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I'm watermelon shape.
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We apples get a hard time here on the DM with comments like 'no waist ' 'no curves' 'like a boy' . Most apples have killer legs and snake hips though. The pears get the same 'no boobs' 'wide load' 'thick legs' but have flat tummies and tiny waists .Best show off your assets, pick a role model similar to your own shape and just be the fittest, healthiest apple or pear you can! Nobody is perfect! Even Candice Swanpoel is flat chested without the padding!
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