Health
Fat deposits in women's buttocks and thighs play an important role in developing a child's intelligence, according to a new study.
Professor Will Lassek from the University of Pittsburgh in the US explained that fat in these areas is a reserve for building a child's brain.
He explained that the nervous system needs a lot of fat, and fat in the thigh area is rich in DHA (docosahexanoic acid), which is an important component for the human brain.
Baby brain development
Docosahexanoic acid is important for the growth and development of the child's brain and for maintaining normal brain function in adults. The inclusion of DHA in the diet improves learning ability, and DHA deficiency is associated with learning difficulties.
Scientists have not been able to explain why women have so much adipose tissue, which usually makes up 30 percent of their body weight.
“A similar level is observed in hibernating bears or whales living in cold Arctic regions,” said Professor Lassek.
Read also: Effective ways to reduce thigh size
Fat content in the human body
“Women have exchanged muscle for fat, so they are a third weaker than men. The percentage of fat in the male body is only 5-10 percent, so men usually have a more elongated body,” he added.
Additional fat reserves are usually lost during breastfeeding when they are needed for the baby's brain.
Scientists say that mothers usually lose about half a kilogram per month while breastfeeding.
Over the past 5 million years, the volume of the human brain has increased from 400 ml to 1200 ml. This could mean that women are fatter to support the baby's growing brain needs.
This may also explain why many men like women with curves: their children will simply be smarter.