Yes, hips can get wider with weight gain due to increased fat and muscle, but your actual hip bones also naturally widen with age, independent of weight, and genetics influence fat distribution. Weight gain adds tissue, making hips appear larger, while exercise can build gluteal muscles to round out the hip area, and age-related bone expansion (about 1 inch from 20-80) contributes to increased waist and hip size.
While it is often assumed that the widening of the hips is due to an increase in body fat, researchers led by Dr. Laurence Dahners say that it is a natural process not linked to weight gain and that the pelvic bones of a 40 year old are wider than when he or she was 20 years of age.
The authors point to estrogen levels, which rise during puberty and decline later in life, as the likely cause of the widening and subsequent narrowing in the female pelvis, in particular because estrogen is known to impact bone growth and development.
Losing 8 to 15 pounds can reduce overall body fat, potentially decreasing hip size, but the exact change varies by individual. Hip size may decrease slightly if fat loss occurs around the hips, but muscle and bone structure remain unchanged.
With the onset of puberty, the male pelvis remains on the same developmental trajectory, while the female pelvis develops in an entirely new direction, becoming wider and reaching its full width around the age of 25-30 years. From the age of 40 onward, the female pelvis then begins to narrow again.
Hormones drive the deposition of fat around the pelvis, buttocks, and thighs of women and the bellies of men. For women, this so-called sex-specific fat appears to be physiologically advantageous, at least during pregnancies. But it has a cosmetic down-side as well, in the form of cellulite.
The most common stubborn fat areas include the belly, thighs, hips, lower back, upper arms, and neck. These regions tend to store fat more easily and resist weight loss, making them challenging for many people. Fat in these areas is often influenced by factors like hormones, genetics, and lifestyle choices.
Common causes of hip fat are:
Hourglass is the rarest body type, with only estimated 8% of women having this figure. Here's the thing: hourglass bodies are versatile. The stereotypical hourglass is too narrow of a depiction that often fails to capture the true beauty and diversity of this shape.
Puberty usually starts when you're between 9 and 13 years old. But it can start earlier or later. Thanks to hormones like estrogen, you'll notice changes like your breasts starting to grow and new curves forming on your body. You might notice that you start to get taller, and eventually you'll get your period.
Those who were attracted to large hips hips in a partner were more likely to successfully have offspring (easier to give birth) and their offspring would more likely inherit their preferences. "curves" on a woman tend to just be a description of a healthy post puberty build.
Body Shapes with the Highest Risk of Health Problems
Apple and pear body shapes tend to have the highest risk. Apples tend to be at greater risk for heart disease, diabetes, and strokes because they hold a larger amount of tummy fat.
As people gain weight, excess fat tends to be centered around the abdomen, generally starting at the lower abdominal area and working up.
When you hit puberty, estrogen causes you to develop what's referred to as secondary sex characteristics: Your breasts develop, your hips widen, and you grow pubic hair and armpit hair.
Areas Where Fat Can Be Hardest to Lose
“Can I lose hip fat without surgery?” Yes, targeted exercise and a healthy diet can reduce overall body fat, including hips and thighs, but spot reduction is limited. For stubborn fat deposits resistant to lifestyle changes, medical procedures like liposuction provide more definitive results.
Abstract. Women generally have a higher percentage of body fat than men. Also, women store more fat in the gluteal-femoral region, whereas men store more fat in the visceral (abdominal) depot.
During this process, you might notice your body feels a bit softer or "jiggly." This can happen because your skin and tissues are adjusting to the shrinking fat cells, and sometimes your body retains a little extra water as it adapts. It's all part of the transition to a leaner, stronger version of you!
You can see that the optimum body fat percentage for physical attractiveness is around 12%, with both lower and higher values resulting in lower ratings of attractiveness. Within the healthy body fat percentage range though, the differences aren't major.
Using CT scans, they determined that the width of people's pelvises continued to grow after skeletal maturity was reached at age 20. Specifically, the pelvic inlet widened–evidence of actual pelvic growth.
We explore why men are often attracted to women with fuller hips and thighs. It's not just about appearance! The body naturally stores important nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids in these areas, which are essential for brain development—especially for babies.