(BBC) Appleshapes and Pearshapes

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Curvy women are more likely to live longer than their slimmer

counterparts, researchers have found.

Institute of Preventative Medicine in Copenhagen researchers found

those with wider hips also appeared to be protected against heart

conditions.

 

Women with a hip measurement smaller than 40 inches, or a size 14

would not have this protection, they said.

 

The researchers say hip fat contains a beneficial natural anti-

inflammatory.

 

Narrow hips 'detrimental'

 

They said this anti-inflammatory, called adiponectin, prevents

arteries swelling up and becoming blocked.

 

Fat on hips is different than fat on the abdomen

 

Dr Berit Heitmann, Institute of Preventative Medicine

 

The hourglass figure has been made famous by women ranging from

Marilyn Monroe and Sophia Loren to Kelly Brook and Catherine Zeta

Jones today.

 

The Danish researchers examined almost 3,000 men and women aged

between 35 and 65 from 1987 to 1988

 

They measured height, weight and body mass index - calculated by

dividing weight in kilograms by the square of your height in metres.

 

They then looked at Danish health registers up until the end of 1998

to look at how many of the men and women had cardiovascular problems,

and up to 2001 to see how many had died.

 

Compared to the group of women with the smallest hip circumferences,

women with the biggest were found to have an 87% reduction in deaths.

 

They also had an 86% reduced risk of having coronary heart disease

and a 46% reduction in the risk of developing cardiovascular disease,

according to the researchers.

 

Previous studies have found both men and women with small hips are at

an increased risk of developing diabetes, high blood pressure and

gall bladder disease.

 

However the study, which has been published in Obesity Research,

found a wider hip circumference was not linked with better heart

health in men.

 

'Apple-shape' risk

 

Professor Berit Heitmann, who led the study, said: " It seems that the

protection is not a matter of wide hips, it's the detrimental effect

of narrow hips with a lack of muscle fat, or bone or a combination of

both.

 

She added: " Fat on hips is different than fat on the abdomen. If you

do not have enough of this fat you may risk heart attacks. "

 

Carrying excess fat around the stomach, being 'apple shaped', is

already known to be potentially damaging to health.

 

Fat cells in this part of the body pump out chemicals that can damage

the insulin system, raising the risk of diabetes and heart disease.

 

Belinda Linden, of the British Heart Foundation said: " It has been

widely reported that if you are apple-shaped, your risk of developing

cardiovascular disease is likely to be greater than if you are pear-

shaped.

 

" This study provides additional evidence of the association between

hip circumference and cardiovascular protection among women. "

 

But she added: " It is important to consider both your body weight and

shape in tandem. Controlling both by eating less and being more

active is the best way to reduce your risk of heart and circulatory

disease. "