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By Mary RichardsA new study challenges the belief that an hourglass figure is the ideal body type for women.
Science says that a woman with larger hips is more fertile. But a woman with a larger waist may be more able to take care of her children.
Elizabeth Cashdan, an anthropologist at the University of Utah, says the hormones that make women physically stronger, more competitive and better able to deal with stress also tend to redistribute fat from the hips to the waist.
A new University of Utah study found that women with more of an apple shape had more strength, assertiveness, and ability to cope with stress. Those women were more of the breadwinner in the family, too.
But the downsides are that having too thick a waist can mean health problems and lower fertility. To see details of the study, view the attached news release.
E-mail: mrichards@ksl.com
