There is also substantial research that shows as your waist expands, your brain get smaller. This is especially true in middle and old age. Obesity has already been linked to possible increased risks of Alzheimer’s. Both Ageing Research Reviews and American Academy of Neurology have stated that a rising Body Mass Index and Waist-to-Hip ratio in directly correlated to lower brain volume. What they do not know is if obesity leads to lower brain volume, or if lower brain volume leads to obesity. This is an important question to answer.
It is optimal to have a waist significantly smaller than your hips. As the waist grows as big or bigger than the hips, like those that have an “apple” or “muffin” shape, the health risks grow as well. Some experts prefer using a waist-to-hip ratio in determining obesity, over the widely accepted body mass index. You can find charts on body mass index and waist-to-hip ratios by simply Googling them.
A thin waist has been proven to be an indicator of good health. This is simply because so many vital organs are found in this area of the body, and storing fat there dramatically increases your risk of health problems. A thin waist is also shown to be a significant factor in attractiveness and intelligence, according to multiple studies, often regardless of weight.
You simply can’t pack your heart, lungs, liver, etc. in a blanket of fat and expect to go through life with the threat of heart disease, diabetes, or other nasty fat-related diseases.
Although they were not considered petite women by any stretch of the imagination, sex symbols Marilyn Monroe and Sophia Loren both were women with a small waist in comparison to their hips.
The Journal of Biological Psychology, stated “Hip size indicates pelvic size and the amount of additional fat storage that can be used as a source of energy. Waist size conveys information such as current reproductive status or health status…in westernized societies with no risk of seasonal lack of food, the waist, conveying information about fertility and health status, will be more important than hip size for assessing a female’s attractiveness.”
If health and sex appeal is not enough, you now know that a small waist in comparison to the hips, has also had direct links with higher intelligence. Interestingly, both women with small waists and their children, scored significantly higher on intelligence tests. These women were not necessarily skinny, but had a waist 60-70% of the size of their hips. Again, weight is not a factor.
Whether your motivation is to be healthier, smarter, or to be more attractive, it looks like keeping an eye on the size of your waist might just be in order. A tiny waist never goes out of style. A tiny waist is important for a woman, but for more reasons than most people realize.
