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Hormonal and genetic factors may produce male-like distribution of fat in women i.e. Thus females generally have relatively narrow waists and large buttocks, and this along with wide hips make for a wider hip section and a lower waist–hip ratio compared to males. Later fat is stored in the belly, similar to males. When females reach menopause and the estrogen produced by ovaries declines, fat migrates from their buttocks, hips and thighs to their waists. JSTOR ( May 2022) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message)Įstrogen causes fat to be stored in the buttocks, thighs, and hips in females.Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. This section needs additional citations for verification. Unlike bone structure, muscles and fat distribution may change from time to time, depending on food habits, exercises and hormone levels. Fat distribution, muscles and tissues The rear view of a naked adult woman with pronounced hip width and large buttocks, both typically associated with female physiqueīody shape is affected by body fat distribution, which is correlated to current levels of sex hormones. Expansion of the ribcage is caused by the effects of testosterone during puberty. Widening of the shoulders occurs as part of the male pubertal process.
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Male traits An adult man with a "V-shaped body" pronounced shoulder width and expanded chest, both traits typically associated with male physique Males produce primarily testosterone with small amounts of estrogen and progesterone, while women produce primarily estrogen and progesterone and small amounts of testosterone. Males and females generally have the same hormones, but blood concentrations and site sensitivity differs between males and females. However, not all females adhere to this stereotypical pattern of secondary sex characteristics.
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After puberty, hips are generally wider than shoulders. The upper limb in females have an outward angulation (carrying angle) at elbow level to accommodate the wider pelvis.
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This sometimes affects their walking style, resulting in hip sway. The sacrum in females is shorter and wider, and also directed more toward the rear (see image). Because the female pelvis is flatter, more rounded and proportionally larger, the head of the fetus may pass during childbirth. Hence females generally have wider hips, permitting childbirth. Widening of the hip bones occurs as part of the female pubertal process, and estrogens (the predominant sex hormones in females) cause a widening of the pelvis as a part of sexual differentiation. Inherited genes play a large part in the development of body shape. In adult humans, muscle mass may change due to exercise, and fat distribution may change due to hormone fluctuations. The science of measuring and assessing body shape is called anthropometry.ĭuring puberty, differentiation of the male and female body occurs for the purpose of reproduction. Many aspects of body shape vary with gender and the female body shape especially has a complicated cultural history. Growth is usually completed between the ages of 13 and 18, at which time the epiphyseal plates of long bones close, allowing no further growth (see Human skeleton). Skeletal structure grows and changes only up to the point at which a human reaches adulthood and remains essentially the same for the rest of their life. The general shape or figure of a person is defined mainly by the molding of skeletal structures, as well as the distribution of muscles and fat. Human body shape is a complex phenomenon with sophisticated detail and function.
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