Curvy women give birth to more intelligent babies

Researchers discovered that women have curves - particularly in the thighs and bottom - because the development of babies' brains relies on fat supplies stripped directly from these areas.

The quantity of fat on a woman was apparently linked to the baby's intelligence and chance of survival, suggesting that this may be an evolutionary explanation of why some men prefer curvier women.

Up until recent studies the reason why women carried more fat than other mammals was a mystery.

Most mammals' and primates' bodies typically have about 5-10 percent of fat; whereas, in human women that number rises to about 30 percent, Will Lassek, a professor at the University of Pittsburg, told News.com.au.

The fats in women's buttocks and thighs, which help develop a baby's brain, are high in a chemical called docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

"The fat in these areas is a depot for building a baby's brain," Lassek, who has published a number of science papers and a book on the subject, told News.com.au.

"You need lots of fat to make a nervous system and the fats in these areas are also enriched in DHA, which is a particularly important component in the human brain. It looks as if women have evolved to accumulate these fats and hold on to them - until a baby arrives."

Less than 80 percent of the DHA needed for a baby's brain comes from the mother's stored fat, Lassek explained, adding that "there is even evidence that they and their children are more intelligent as a result."

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