I wonder what Darwin would think about the latest analysis of the Framingham Heart Study – published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) – and reported on in Time. Not only are humans still evolving, it turns out that plump women are at an advantage over their skinnier counterparts when it comes to reproductive health and offspring.
In simple terms, survival of the fit may actually mean survival of the fat; if by fat you mean women who are slightly plump, and carry a bit of cushion for the pushing, something that is quite good for babies and for love. Specifically, and excluding cultural changes, over “the next 10 generations, by 2409 the average Framingham woman would be 2 cm (0.8 in) shorter, 1 kg (2.2 lb.) heavier, have a healthier heart, have her first child five months earlier and enter menopause 10 months later than a woman today.” News like that makes a gal want to eat a Darwin’s donut (and if I carried his name as my own, I might just consider starting that chain).
Women need to carry more ‘meat on their bones’ – nine months worth to be more accurate – vs. men, who by the way only need two months worth. What for, curious readers might ask? In the case of some natural disaster - say a drought or conditions in which food and water are scarce – women who can go without regular nourishment for nine months have a better chance of making sure their unborn child makes it into the world. This isn’t rocket science. It is something far more elegant than that.
I wonder how this information might influence our current craze for skinnier (and scarier) standards of beauty. Will models who once starved themselves next to nothingness revolt and demand that they be allowed to expand, gasp!, to a size 6? Will Generation Plump bring some sanity into our lives, along with a healthy appetite?
I for one would love to see a new marketing campaign directed at all those who’ve led us down this path towards an emaciated norm – those, who obviously, don’t know the sensual pleasure of a really good meal, and have gone crazy with photoshop software. On it, I’d put a lovely women, size 12, smiling broadly (to match her rounded hips). The caption: Built for comfort, not speed: eat this, Ms. Skin and Bones. (Actually, that last bit wasn't my first idea, but as this is Modern Love, I didn't think the phrase 'skinny b**ches' reflected my most mensh-like self).
I could go on an on about this, but I have to stop writing now. It’s been an hour since I last ate, and I have my evolutionary figure to maintain.
Related articles:
In the eye of the beholder: fat vs. thin, art vs. erotica, weight and beauty
Can science predict the success of marriage?
Model fired, yes, men prefer thin women, by Rita Watson
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All Modern Love Examiner articles ©2009 by Tinamarie Bernard; reposts permitted with link back to original article. All other rights reserved.
Comments
Tinamarie, what an engaging and wonderful article! The focus on weight would not be necessary if we all just took a little better care to make healthier food choices and exercise. The body will do what it's gonna do! Love your perspective. Keep it up.
Excellent!
I know we all have our own preferences...but it is so hard to comprehend how anyone could not clearly see that the woman on the far right (in your chosen picture) is clearly the hottest of the bunch. Curves are yummy!! Ask any baby!
Also....the tragic way we have been brainwashed to see skinnny as smart and sexy has led to all kinds of disorders and hatred. One really sick one is pregorexia which I truly hope you end up addressing soon.
I have always had a feeling about this...and I was correct!
Food for thought! I suspected women evolved to develop a higher percentage of body fat on their bodies than men did in order to provide for herself and her baby during natural and unnatural disasters. It makes sense in light of what we know about the ancient societies. Men were hunters and gatherers, leaving the group to hunt for food and gather materials. Women stayed behind to be the primary caretakers of the old and young and sick and injured. So I suspect they didn't get the physical exercise to stay lean like modern day runway models do. Neither did they feel compelled to eat like birds to get or stay thin since thinness was seen as less healthy than plumpness.
Darwin...Would think..."Man I love a big ASS!"
Of course a little plumper is better for survival! The girl on the left of your picture would never make it through a real food shortage (or cold snap.) Anyone who knows where BMI really came from (insurance companies figuring health risks) also would know underweight is just as unhealthy as overweight. Food, weight, and bodies should e about dynamic balance- just like the rest of our lives.
Thanks for posting about this.
HappyCoupleXprt
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