Are you a banana? An apple?A pear? You probably know what we’re talking about – and it is not what we’re having for a snack. Identifying our body shapes by fruit could help us find the most effective workout, choose the most flattering swimsuit, and – according to a new studies – help improve your health.
The idea of “shape” basically refers to where you store your fat. Apple shapes generally store their fat in the upper body, especially around their midsection; bananas have their fat equally distributed around their body; and pears store fat in their hips, butt and thigs. Identifying your body shape can help you understand which health problems you are at risk for – especially when it comes to what you eat.
Apple Body Shapes
Potential health issues: According to a study recently published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, apple body shapes may be prone to binge eating. Researchers discovered that women who stored majority of their fat in their waist appeared to have the most cases of “loss-of-control eating” where they binged on junk food. This also seemed to turn into a vicious cycle – the more they binged the more fat was stored around their waists, and the more they had the urge to binge.
What to do: Although this is definitely not great news, researchers highlighted that knowing you are susceptible to binge eating can assist in you controlling it before it turns into a serious problem. Keep tempting food out of the house, choose healthy food and keep a journal to observe patterns in your eating. It also helps to know that sometimes out-of-control eating is biologically based and not just weak willpower.
Pear Body Shapes
Potential health issues: A study in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism says that women with pear body shapes could be more at risk for metabolic syndrome. Although previous studies have illustrated that fat stored in the hips, butt and thighs is protective, these researchers discovered that fat in the buttock area increases levels of omentin-1 and chemerin, proteins that can cause inflammation and insulin resistance. The researchers have rejected the myth that butt and hip fat is “innocent.”
What to do: The study finds that if you carry your weight in you posterior, you should take extra measures to keep a healthy blood sugar. Eliminating processed junk and sweets getting lots of exercise can help.
Banana Body Shapes
Potential health issues: A third study from earlier this year found that exchanging healthy produce for junk food increased risk of diabetes and cancer even if the individual eating did not gain weight anywhere. So although banana body shapes didn’t increase the risk of disease, it did not protect against it either, dispelling the myth that as long as you are skinny, you’re healthy.
What to do: Banana body shapes should therefore eat a healthy, balanced diet – even (and particularly) if you don’t notice any problems from eating foods that are not so good for you.
