Thanks, Lisa

Nordette — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 21:10:49 -0600

I forgot to say that I was assigned to train him. After a while I refused to work with him.

Nordette Adams is a Contributing Editor with BlogHer.org.

Great quote Nordette

Lisa Stone — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 11:04:01 -0600

I recall in my younger years that when a man assumed I was an idiot I figured he was sexist in general. It didn't cross my mind that my figure type sparked his bigoted thinking until I got older. One day ended up telling this guy off at work who never looked me in the eye when I spoke to him. He only paid attention to me below the neck.

Lisa Stone
BlogHer Co-founder
Surfette

Curvy moms are brainier and so are their children, say researchers

Nordette — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 19:31:06 -0600

News you can misuse is a beautiful thing. Take this study that the UK's Times reported as "Curvy women are cleverer too" in November 2007. At CNN this weekend, the lead for this same story suggests that curvier women may take comfort in this research and not torture themselves with weight loss resolutions for the new year. Its tag is the study suggests "curvier women are smarter and have smarter kids too." Do you believe this stuff?

I've been considered curvy at various points in my life, hips one size larger than blouse size. You know what I mean--you try on a pair of jeans that fit your thighs and hips but the waist is too big.

Those days may be long gone for me because in the last few years my waist has lost some of its side swerve. My waist-to-hip ratio is not as low as it once was, which causes me to wonder, as have some others commenting on this research, is this study saying I get dumber when I gain weight around waist?" (Just kidding. I didn't seriously wonder that.) The answer to that question is no. Weight gain in the waist is associated with a high risk for diabetes, and if I don't get a grip on that type of weight gain I may be in trouble.

This latest research that suggests curvy=smart was published in Evolution and Human Behavior, and when I saw the CNN story I laughed. Puhleese! Big hips and thighs linked to being smarter? It sounded ludicrous at first glance.

Also, the visuals in the CNN video are misleading. Watching that video and reading around you'd might be inclined to believe curvy women includes any overweight woman, but that's not really what the study's saying. The research emphasizes waist-to-hip ratio.

In effect, says the study of some 16,000 women, the smaller your waist and bigger your hips, the smarter you are.

And, McGinnis points out, there's a formula: Divide waist circumference by hip circumference. The lower the result, the better.

For instance, notes McGinnis, Jennifer Lopez's waist measures 26 inches, her hips, 39 -- for a waist-to-hip ratio of .66. The less curvy Keira Knightley's waist is 25 inches, and her hips, 33, for a ratio of .76.

The researchers say it has to do with omega-3 fatty acids, which gather around fuller hips and thighs, and are important for the growth of the brain during pregnancy. The curvier the hips, the higher the level of omega-3s.

Hmm. Could this explain why my narrow-waisted, big-hipped daughter is so bright? As I said, I once fell into this category, sort of, but not as much as my daughter.

Ah, it would be nice if life's answers were that easy. I don't think that's what the study is really saying, that you're automatically smarter if you're curvy, but reporters are spinning it that way in their leads.

However, the CNN video ends saying that the real point of this study is that certain fatty acids are important and that pregnant women should consume foods high in Omega 3, like salmon, if they want to promote the best brain growth in their unborn children. Moral of the story: Go for the tuna not the donut. What else is new?

Other articles say the research may explain why men are more attracted to women with hour-glass figures. I didn't know that the idea that most men are attracted to curvy women, women with a .7 or less waist-to-hip ratio, was a mystery we needed to solve. It's information that's still reported as news that I remember hearing twenty years ago, but since I'm not dating these days or seeking a mate, I may be less sensitive to how this research may impact the self-esteem of women with hourglass figures who are dating.

Although these theories await confirmation, Paula Hall, a sexual and relationship psychologist with Relate, said: "Having research that proves you can be sexy and intelligent is really positive. It shows that curvy women may be better at things other than raising children and doing cooking and housework." (Times)

I recall in my younger years that when a man assumed I was an idiot I figured he was sexist in general. It didn't cross my mind that my figure type sparked his bigoted thinking until I got older. One day I ended up telling this guy off at work who never looked me in the eye when I spoke to him. He only paid attention to me below the neck.

Back to curves, brains, and babies

If you don't recognize the celebrity in the photo at the beginning of this post, it's Selma Hayek, known for not only her acting talent but also her curves. She's now a mother, giving birth to a girl in September. I don't know whether Selma's also known for big brains, but given her success as executive producer of the television show Ugly Betty, I doubt she's a dud.

Oh, Selma also married a billionaire.

To put this research about curvier women being smarter and bearing smarter babies in its rightful perspective, I give you this excerpt from an Ivillage post at The Weighting Game called "Look at the huge brains on her!

Most people don’t know this, but when visionary rapper Sir Mix-a-lot penned the thoughtful lyrics “I like big butts and I cannot lie, and you other brothers can’t deny, that when a girl walks by with an itty-bitty waist and a round thing in your face you get SPRUNG!” he was really offering a social commentary on the evolutionary link between curvy figures and increased offspring potential. "Get sprung," in other words, is simply a metaphor for the mental excitement that comes with realizing a woman can conceive, deliver and care for your child with love, maternal knowledge and compassion. ...

So basically, when men drool over celebs like J. Lo, Beyonce, Eva Mendes and Kim Kardashian (well, OK, she’s not really a celeb, but yoou see where I’m going), they can’t help it! It’s their ancestors whispering, "She will give you Einsteinian babies! Go to her." (The Weighting Game)

I had to mention that post because it's funny, and I still find it hard to take this research seriously as it's presented in media and by some bloggers.

I also like some of the comments I saw in The Times. One person asked when are they going to do a study on brains related to penis size? That person's not alone. I've read multiple comments that show some readers are appalled that researchers would get money to study women's waist-to-hip ratio and see it as one more sign that women are still objectified.

Finally, I leave you with this quote from a commenter in the UK.

Alternatively attractive women with a waist to hip ratio of 0.7 (shown to be the most desirable to potential mates) would be able to select the best mate, and the best mate would be intelligent and therefore able to provide well for their family, consequently the children would also be intelligent, I believe its called natural selection? perhaps I am wrong, but I have a waist to hip ratio of 0.7 so probably not! TS, Bath, UK

I had these same thoughts.

Selma Hayek photo found the CBS article on the research. It mentioned her in the story's sidebar. And the pregnant Selma picture is from TMZ.

Nordette Adams is a Contributing Editor for BlogHer.com.

BlogHer - Curvy moms are brainier and so are their children, say researchers - Comments

Thanks, Lisa

Great quote Nordette

Curvy moms are brainier and so are their children, say researchers