Thigh Size: An Indicator of Heart Disease

Bigger  thighs could mean a lower danger of heart disease. In recent studies, women and men whose thighs calculated at less than 24 inches in diameter had an increased risk of heart disease and death. In other words, the smaller your thighs the more at risk you are for heart problems. If your thighs are more than 24 inches, your chances of heart disease may be substantially reduced.


Several measures are used to predict cardiovascular risks and these include waist-to-hip ratios, body mass index (BMI) and weight. None of these measures are completely accurate so researchers are trying another predictor: thigh size. There are current studies reporting insulin resistance might be due to the muscles and the low levels of subcutaneous fat in the thighs. Low fat stores in the thighs can lead to challenging fat metabolism.

Body Mass Indictors

BMI or Body Mass Index is a metric used to estimate body fat. It does not measure the fat directly but correlates with other measurements like height and weight to determine body fat. Calculating BMI using pounds and inches is formulated by dividing your weight by your height squared. Multiply that figure by 703. As an example, if you weigh 130 pounds and are 5 feet and six inches in height, your BMI would be 20.9. (130/ (66X66 — 4356) x 03 — 20.9). If your BMI is under 18.5 you are skinny and underweight. If you BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9 you are average or normal, and if your BMI is over 25.0 you are overweight. Those with BMIs of over 30 are considered obese. Do be aware you are at risk of heart problems, colorectal cancer and diabetes .0with high body mass index. Still, BMI is a measurement, and not necessarily an accurate measure of body fat or your health risks.

BMI gives you an overall calculation of body fat, but does not indicate exactly where the fat resides on your body. Researchers caution that the visceral fat or fats that surround your body”s organs are far more dangerous than the fat just below your skin. Studies in Harvard Men”s Health Watch (January 2013) invited 2815 men and women ages 35 to 65 to a study to determine if thigh size equated less risk of heart problems. This group was watched, measured and followed for over 12 years. Researchers found that thigh circumference – measured where your thigh meets your butt – of about 62 centimeters or 24.4 inches was the most protective. Thighs that were bigger than 24.4 inches provided no extra benefit but thighs thinner than the magic number of 24.4 inches could indicate higher risks of heart problems in the future.

It is interesting to note that the value of thigh size was consistent even when body composition, BMI, waist circumference, and body fat percentages were taken into consideration. Risk factors for heart disease that include smoking, alcohol use, systolic blood pressure, exercise and cholesterol levels were also contemplated. It was found that these risk factors did not change the result of the thicker thigh propositions.

Measuring thigh size is another tool in the fight against cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome. Heart and pulmonary issues are one of the fastest rising health problems in the United States and contribute to thousands of deaths a year.

Exercise to Increase Thigh Size

With medical studies in mind, is it good to increase thigh size? Studies indicate exercises can help prevent type 2 diabetes and heart disease. It may just be the act of exercising or the actual increase in thigh size. Whatever the reasons, exercising your thighs in a very good idea. Thighs have numerous major muscles and making your muscles larger is called hypertrophy. You push your muscles hard during workouts and allow sufficient time for recovery. Perform multiple sets of exercises using moderate weights and repeat at least ten times a session.

Try barbell back squats which are one of the most effective lower-body exercises to perform. Squats give you the chance to place significant loads on your thighs. Do perform barbell squats on a squat rack or power cage.

Lunges work one leg at a time and also develop your thighs. Stand with feet together and hands by your sides. Take a huge step to the front and bend your knees. Gently lower the rear knee just off the floor and keep the front of your leg straight. Push off and return to the initial position. Do this on the opposite leg and continue alternating legs for a full set.

Try leg extensions to work on the muscles in the front of your thighs. Sit on a leg extension machine with your knees aligned to the machine pivot point. Slowly and smoothly straighten legs to lift the weight and bend legs to lower weights. Don”t let the weight stack touch down between repetitions.

There is no guarantee that increasing your thigh size or the circumference will keep you from heart issues. If you don’t try, however, you will never know. Avoid being confronted with cardiovascular problems that cause severe lifestyle changes.

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HealthStatus has been operating since 1998 providing the best interactive health tools on the Internet, millions of visitors have used our blood alcohol, body fat and calories burned calculators. The HealthStatus editorial team has continued that commitment to excellence by providing our visitors with easy to understand high quality health content for many years. Our team of health professionals, and researchers use peer reviewed studies as source elements in our articles. Our high quality content has been featured in a number of leading websites, USA Today, the Chicago Tribune, Live Strong, GQ, and many more.

Written by HealthStatus Team
Medical Writer & Editor

HealthStatus has been operating since 1998 providing the best interactive health tools on the Internet, millions of visitors have used our blood alcohol, body fat and calories burned calculators. The HealthStatus editorial team has continued that commitment to excellence by providing our visitors with easy to understand high quality health content for many years. Our team of health professionals, and researchers use peer reviewed studies as source elements in our articles. Our high quality content has been featured in a number of leading websites, USA Today, the Chicago Tribune, Live Strong, GQ, and many more.

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