On TikTok, the thigh gap is trending (2024)

FAQs

What is the thigh gap trend? ›

Something that's the new thigh gap is a new bodily beauty standard that people want to obtain or show off. It can be used sarcastically to call attention to the fleeting and arbitrary nature of such trends as well.

Origin of the phenomenon

The thigh gap first received widespread news coverage in December 2012 after the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show which featured several models with noticeable thigh gaps. Images of thigh gaps featured in "thinspiration" blogs and across social networking sites.

In practise, it's rare enough that something like 5% women in this world will have a natural thigh gap without resorting to drastic and dangerous measures. Despite this (or maybe because of this) teeny, tiny percentage, thigh gaps have become the most coveted “It accessory”.

Unless you are underweight or have femurs that are extremely bowed or your hip joints live unusually far apart inside the pelvis, your thighs will touch.

Are thigh gaps healthy? Whether you have a thigh gap or not has no bearing on your internal health. It's common to assume that a thigh gap is determined by physical fitness, body weight or diet—and we don't blame you!

You don't need a thigh gap to be a healthy person. In fact, very healthy and athletic women are unlikely to have a thigh gap, even if they have very low body fat. That's because athletic legs have muscle and muscle naturally makes the thighs touch.

The "thigh gap" is the space between the thighs when standing upright with the feet together. Essentially, it just means someone's inner thighs don't touch or rub against each other. "[The thigh gap] is not a standard of health, but an aesthetic standard that is often recommended for women.

The "Toblerone tunnel" refers to a gap near the top of a woman's thighs resembling a triangular shape similar to a Toblerone candy bar.

Space between a person's thighs

Thigh gap is a controversial term because it is thought of as a standard for women's bodies when it is often unattainable for many women. It is a similar body slang term to bikini bridge and ribcage bragging.

It's a reference to the subject's voluptuous, womanly curves and the fact that her thighs - rather than being unnaturally skinny - touch together at the top of the legs and taper inwards towards the knee, much like the shape of a mermaid's tail.

Do thigh gaps matter? ›

What it is, is a mix of genetic predispositions (where your body naturally stores fat), your current body composition and body fat percentage and your bone structure. Before we go any further: whether you do or do not have a thigh gap does not make you less or more healthy, strong or worthy.

Stand straight before a mirror with your back upright, your left and right knees touching each other. If you see space between your inner thighs, you've got yourself a thigh gap.

In their study, Vartanian et al⁴ concluded that a wide upper thigh, with an optimal transition from the buttock to the thigh, was the most attractive shape.

The primary determining factor for whether you have a thigh gap isn't body weight, a healthy diet or strength training – it's the width of your hips. Yup, that's it! People with wider hip bones are more likely to have a natural thigh gap, and people with narrow-set hip bones are less likely to have one.

That's because the inner thigh is packed with nerve endings, which makes it an erogenous zone. Here's the thing: the thighs are a common part where a lot of people get tickled. And . because of that, many people associate the sensation of being touched there with pleasure.

Contrary to the body shapes of most supermodels, the hourglass figure is more round and curvy, with a well-defined waistline, fuller hips and bust/chest and generous thighs.

Providing an individual is at a healthy weight, the absence of a thigh gap does not indicate a health issue. The thigh gap is strictly a beauty ideal. Some women are genetically predisposed to carry extra fat around their inner thighs, making this a challenging standard to realize.

Stem cells show fat is preprogrammed for its location

That result told them that the cells are preprogrammed. In other words, belly fat and thigh fat are genetically destined for their final location during development. It's not a difference that's acquired over time, as a result of diet or environmental exposure.

Sometimes women also touch themselves unknowingly (no, not what you're thinking!), to calm their excitement. She may rub her thighs or her arms or keep crossing or non-crossing her legs either out of excitement or sheer nervousness.

If it is between a couple that are demonstrating interest in each other, then a touch to the thigh is a way of indicating intimacy, in which case, it is the response to the touch that is the important thing.

What is thigh cleavage called? ›

Thigh brow is the fold of skin that forms between a woman's thigh and crotch when you sit, bend or lean forward.

The inner thigh muscles are called the adductors. They're made up of five different muscles. These muscles are attached to your pelvic (hip) bone and femur, or upper leg bone. Besides helping you move safely, your adductors are also crucial to stabilizing your hips, knees, low back, and core.

The adductor canal is located deep to the sartorius muscle and spans the middle third of the thigh, spanning the femoral triangle proximally to the adductor hiatus distally. The contents of the adductor canal include: Saphenous nerve. The nerve to vastus medialis.

Liposuction, a thigh lift, and CoolSculpting are three ways a cosmetic surgeon can help treat fat cells in your inner thighs. While you may feel better aesthetically, having a thigh gap isn't considered a medical problem, so you should weigh all of the benefits, costs, and potential risks carefully.

Saddlebags: Excess fat around the outer hips and thighs. Resembles the saddlebags that horses carry on the sides of their belly during travel.

Cellulite looks like dimpled or bumpy skin. It's sometimes described as having a cottage cheese or orange peel texture. You can see mild cellulite only if you pinch your skin in an area where you have cellulite, such as your thighs.

People with larger thighs have lower risk of heart disease, high blood pressure - Study Finds.

Inner Thighs = Fear of Vulnerability

Because our legs are biologically programmed to run when we first spot danger, fear towards others is often stored here.

Muscle tone in the legs will often cause thighs to touch when you walk, and this can result in chafed thighs. Heat, sweat, and exercise can also increase your likelihood of getting chafed thighs. Most people will experience thigh chafing at some point in their lives, even if they usually have a thigh gap.

Why are my thighs so big when I sit? ›

Sedentary Lifestyle: thigh fat is a sign of atrophied buttocks settling within the thighs. The main reason for this is rooted in a lack of physical activity. If you don't have a somewhat active lifestyle, your blood circulation slows down, resulting in fat accumulation and cellulite.

Strength training focusing on your quadriceps and hamstrings, as well as eating sufficient calories and protein, can help build greater muscle mass to increase the size of your thighs. To grow muscle, be sure to get enough protein each day.

Researchers tracked the volunteers for an average of 12.5 years. They found that people with big thighs had a lower risk of heart disease and premature death than those with thin thighs.

A 26 inch thigh is considered big. The general public will range between 21 to 23 inches, be it a man or woman. However a 26 inch thigh may vary between fat and muscle density.

Women consider longer-legged men more physically appealing than their stumpier counterparts, a study has found. Research involving more than 200 men and women revealed that people whose legs are 5% longer than average are considered the most attractive, regardless of their gender.

It's probably a sign of sexual attraction, as well (legs, and particularly thighs, are often found attractive by men), but again, expressed in a more laid back and cuddly manner.

He'll Touch You Back

He might not touch back, but if he does, you've definitely got the green light. Men who are attracted to you might even engage in more touch. If a man actively tries to touch you during your interaction, it may mean he wants to get closer to you or close the distance between you two.

she likes you. and when you move away and she still try to rub hers with yours, then she truly likes you. whether its intentionally or not, its such a bold move for us girls, though.

Mesomorphs are muscular with a medium frame. And ectomorphs are slender, with lean muscles and minimal fat, good candidates for thigh gap. Depending on your genes, your body build will be one, or a combination, of these.

Hamstrings. Pectineus. Quadriceps, often called the quads. Sartorius.