Large Thighs Don’t Necessarily Mean a Longer Life, IPB University Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition Lecturer Explains the Facts

The belief that people with large thighs are more likely to live longer is not entirely true. This was stated by dr Yunita Aryani, MSi, MH, a lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition at IPB University.

She explained that while several studies have indeed found that a very small thigh circumference is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and premature death, this does not mean that the larger the thighs, the longer a person’s lifespan.

“A thigh circumference that is too small is one indicator of low muscle mass, poor nutritional status, or certain health conditions. This is certainly associated with an increased risk of disease and death,” said dr Yunita.

A cohort study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) found that a small thigh circumference is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease and can lead to premature death in both men and women.

However, the study indicated a threshold effect, meaning that thigh circumference beyond a certain point does not automatically provide additional benefits.

It’s Not Just About Thigh Size
dr Yunita explained that thigh circumference consists of bone, muscle mass, subcutaneous fat, fluid, and other tissues. Two people with the same thigh circumference do not necessarily have similar health conditions.

“Assessing a person’s health based solely on muscle mass is insufficient. Muscle strength and function often provide more meaningful information than size alone,” she said.

Skeletal muscle, including the muscles in the thighs, plays a role in glucose utilization, insulin sensitivity, blood sugar control, mobility, balance, and the provision of protein reserves when the body experiences illness or metabolic stress.

dr Yunita also explained that fat in the thighs and buttocks has different characteristics from visceral fat. Visceral fat is more metabolically active and is associated with insulin resistance, fatty liver disease, type 2 diabetes, cholesterol disorders, hypertension, and other cardiovascular diseases.

Therefore, she emphasized, thigh circumference cannot be used as a standalone indicator of health. Overall health is more influenced by lifestyle, physical activity, diet, sleep patterns, mental health, genetic factors, the environment, and evidence from regular health checkups.

“So, it’s not just about how big the thighs are, but what makes up those thighs and how well they function,” said dr Yunita.

She reminded the public not to assume they are healthy simply because they have large thighs. “Remember, it’s not the size of the thighs, but the muscle mass that makes up those thighs.” (Fj) (IAAS/LAN)