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Another reason to thank all that extra fluff.
By Amanda Chatel — Last updated on Feb 22, 2023
In news that is going to make North West very happy someday, a study has found that curvy women actually make smarter babies, thanks to all that extra fluff.
So, yes, Nori, your mom's assets will come in handy when it’s time for you to prove to the world that you're not a Nepo baby.
Curvy women make smarter babies, according to science:
The study by Pittsburgh University and lead researcher, Professor Will Lassek, found that "fat banks" in the area of a woman’s hips, thighs, and butt are pretty much the golden ticket when it comes to passing on smarts to babies during breastfeeding.
As Lassek explained, “The fat in these areas is a depot for building a baby's brain. You need lots of fat to make a nervous system, and the fats in these areas are also enriched in DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), which is a particularly important component in the human brain."
Lassek went on to explain that women have evolved in such a way as to "accumulate these fats and hold on to them," until they give birth. It is then that these "brain-building, breast-milk lipids," leave the body via nursing and why women lose weight when they do nurse on a regular basis. See? It's all making sense now, isn't it?
Women's bodies, on average, are made up of 30 percent fat, whereas men’s bodies are made up of only 10 percent. It is speculated that due to the fact that the human brain has increased in volume from 400ml to 1200ml over the past five million years, it would only make sense that women are fatter now than they were then.
The weight gain is based on the evolutionary fact that it’s necessary to provide adequate brain capabilities to their offspring.
It is also suggested that the reason many men prefer a woman with curves is that they inherently know those women will reproduce babies that are "likely to be cleverer," according to Cambridge University’s reproductive biologist, David Bainbridge.
Far too often women criticize themselves for their "imperfect" bodies when in actuality, their bodies are just the shape they were meant to be. Women are supposed to be heavier around the hip area for certain evolutionary and biological reasons.
Even if you're not planning on having kids (high five!), you're just sort of stuck with what Mother Nature gave you. There is a method to her madness, and it’s all about keeping the species alive. Even if you don’t take that route, it’s still the reason for most things. I know, I know… but it’s just the way the world works.
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Amanda Chatel is a writer who divides her time between NYC and Paris. She's a regular contributor to Bustle and Glamour, with bylines at Harper's Bazaar, The Atlantic, Forbes, Livingly, Mic, The Bolde, Huffington Post, and others.