Big thighs can reduce the risk of a heart attack, stroke or high blood pressure, study claims 

Big thighs can reduce the risk of a heart attack, stroke or high blood pressure, study claims

  • Big thighs can reduce risk of heart attack, stroke, and high blood pressure
  • Researchers found that ‘leg fat may be beneficial for metabolism’
  • Study published in medical journal looked at 9,520 Chinese aged over 40

Those of us who have large thighs might not be terribly proud of them, but it seems they can reduce our risk of a heart attack, stroke and high blood pressure.

The findings add to evidence that there may be health benefits to being pear-shaped.

Researchers found that, in the overweight, those with the largest thighs had nearly a third lower likelihood of high blood pressure, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes. 

Those of us who have large thighs might not be terribly proud of them, but it seems they can reduce our risk of a heart attack, stroke and high blood pressure (stock)

Thighs and hips are thought to be safer places to store fat than around the waist, where it is likely to end up in organs which help regulate blood pressure.

Dr Zhen Yang, who led the study from Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China, said: ‘In contrast to stomach fat, leg fat may be beneficial for metabolism.’ 

The study, published in the journal Endocrine Connections, looked at 9,520 people in China aged over 40.

Researchers found that, in the overweight, those with the largest thighs had nearly a third lower likelihood of high blood pressure, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes (stock)

Researchers found that, in the overweight, those with the largest thighs had nearly a third lower likelihood of high blood pressure, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes (stock)

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk