A widely shared summary of Oxford research says women who carry more fat on the hips and buttocks may have health advantages compared with abdominal fat. Drawing on data from thousands of women, the work links gluteofemoral fat to a more favorable metabolic profile.

Scientists note this fat tends to store beneficial omega-3s and is associated with lower “bad” cholesterol and better blood-sugar control, which can mean reduced risks of heart disease and diabetes. As lead author Dr. Konstantinos Manolopoulos put it, women with more gluteal fat often show healthier markers overall.

The buzzier claim ties these omega-3 stores and related hormones (like leptin) to brain function, especially in pregnancy, where maternal nutrient stores can support fetal brain development. Still, headlines can overreach—this doesn’t mean every curvy body is automatically “healthier” or “smarter.”

Bottom line: the findings push back on narrow beauty standards and remind us that body fat distribution matters more than size alone. Health comes in many shapes; appreciate your body, care for it, and skip the stereotypes.