However, both men and women experience a gradual widening of the pelvic bones throughout life. They also hypothesize that much of the widening is remodeling. For one, it may be a response to how bones weaken with age, keeping the pelvis prepared for the substantial pressures it endures.
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.
"I think it's a fairly common human experience that people find themselves to be wider at the age of 40 or 60 then they were at 20," study researcher Dr. Laurence E. Dahners, a professor in the orthopedics department at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, said in a statement.
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.
So, as you grow taller, your body starts producing all kinds of hormones, which are chemicals that tell parts of your body what to do. During that time of growth, your hips widen (depending partly on what your genes, aka heredity, told them to do!) This widening helps with having babies in your adult years.
Pass it on: People's hips get wider as they get older not just because of fat, but because their pelvic bones actually grow wider.
You can now blame your bones. Most people don't grow any taller after the age of 20, but a recent study published in the Journal of Orthopaedic Research found evidence that the pelvis -- the hip bones -- continues to widen in both men and women up to about age 80, long after skeletal growth is supposed to have stopped.
Extra fat also tends to accumulate around the hips and buttocks. This tends to be more pronounced in women than in men given the gendered differences in fat accumulation and distribution. Widening of the hips and buttocks can lead to a distinct pear shape.
The cartilage between bones wears away over time, leading to osteoarthritis. Hip fractures are common after the age of 50, when the drop in estrogen leads to weakened bones. Simple falls can lead to hip fractures with osteoporosis. Tendonitis occurs in the hip as it does in the shoulder, elbow, knee, ankle.
A combination of things happens as we age. We tend to lose muscle mass, so our abdominal muscles aren't as tight as they once were, and the loss of elastin and collagen in our skin allows gravity to have its way so skin starts to sag. Both can cause the waistline to expand.
Although it is not possible to reduce hip fat on its own, reducing overall body fat can have this effect. In addition, lower body exercises can tone and build muscle, which may help in reducing hip fat. A person's diet, their activity levels, the amount and quality of sleep, and stress can also contribute to body fat.
To lose weight, and thus reduce hip size, you will need to maintain a daily caloric deficit. This should be roughly 500 calories per day for every pound you want to lose per week and can be created using a combination of restricted food intake and increased energy expenditure (exercise).
The differences in hip shape and width are primarily determined by genetics. Hips are made up of bones and soft tissue, and their shape and size are influenced by hormones and the distribution of muscle, fat, and connective tissue.
A Word From Verywell Family
You can rest assured that your widening hips, in most cases, will return back to their pre-pregnancy state, usually by 12 weeks postpartum. If you are experiencing pelvic pain or other hip-related issues, you should bring these up with your healthcare provider promptly.
Pear Shape. The main characteristic of Pear shape are: A defined waist. Larger hips and thighs.
As we've mentioned before, the secret of how to make your hips look wider is all about tricking the eye. The smaller your waist looks, the wider your hips will appear.
Konstantinos Manolopoulos, fat around the hips is beneficial, while abdominal fat is a bad sign. A research team from Oxford University has suggested that hip fat absorbs harmful fatty acids and prevents arteries from becoming clogged. This means that a bigger butt can protect you against heart and metabolic issues.
Body fat proportions continues to change. The ratio of body fat to muscle increases, as muscle mass decreases. Due to the aging factor, weight is being added to our thighs and buttocks.
Loss of muscle mass decreases how quickly the body uses calories. That can make it more challenging to maintain a healthy weight. Many women notice an increase in belly fat as they get older even if they don't gain weight.
YES! As we get older, we may get less active and find ourselves sitting more causing more hip stiffness. That doesn't mean we have to stop doing things we enjoy or can't improve the quality of our lives. We tend to lose flexibility and strength because we have stopped needing those things in a sedentary lifestyle.
Your Hips Get Wider
For most women, these enlarged bones go back to their original place by about 18 weeks postpartum, but some women keep the extra girth permanently. "My hips stayed permanently wider which was great for me because I had no shape before," said a Reddit user. "I was built like a teenaged boy, lol."
Having sex doesn't make your hips get wider. In fact, there's zero connection between sexual activity and body growth.
Yes, it can. Brisk walking is considered a good cardio exercise. The idea is to pump up your heart rate. As activities like walking, jogging and running include major leg work, it helps lose those extra kilos.