All articles tagged with #body shape
A personal trainer reviews Olivia Lawson's 30-minute 'Hourglass' workout, finding it to be a comprehensive full-body routine that effectively targets major muscle groups, though it may aggravate lower back issues and requires modifications for some exercises. The workout can help build strength and improve body composition but won't necessarily create an hourglass shape without proper genetics and low body fat.
A new study suggests that having strong upper legs can have a positive impact on heart health, blood pressure, knee health, and even brain function. The research found that heart attack patients with strong quadricep muscles were 41% less likely to develop heart disease. Fitness trainer Hannah Verdier emphasizes the importance of strengthening thighs, especially as people age, to prevent falls and maintain stability. Additionally, strong thighs can aid in pregnancy, childbirth, and post-natal recovery, and may reduce the risk of needing a total knee replacement. Furthermore, chunky thighs have been linked to mental benefits, potentially lowering the risk of memory loss.
A study conducted in 2010 found that men are attracted to hourglass female body shapes, with a more pronounced waist-to-hip ratio activating the brain's natural reward system. Looking at pictures of rounded backsides mimics the effects of being high or drunk. The study also found that changes in a woman's body-mass index only really affected brain areas linked to simple visual evaluations of size and shape, suggesting that body fat influences judgments of female beauty due more to societal norms than brain wiring.