Can Thick Thighs Really Save Lives?

The Model Health Show

Shawn Stevenson

Fitness, Health & Fitness, Nutrition

4.8 • 7.3K Ratings

🗓️ 23 March 2026

⏱️ 37 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Today, we’re going to dive into the science of what your leg size and strength can tell you about your overall health. Your legs can be an important indicator of what’s happening with your cardiovascular health, cognitive health, and more. Specifically, you’re going to hear studies that back up the saying, “thick thighs save lives.” On this episode of The Model Health Show, we’re diving into the science of how your thigh circumference and strength can influence your health outcomes. You’re going to learn about the connection between thigh size and cardiovascular health, how having more leg power can help you live longer, and how your leg strength can predict cognitive aging. We’re also going to cover four science backed tips you can use to build a stronger lower body, including specific exercises and nutrition tips you can implement into your existing routine. This episode is full of interesting studies and actionable tips. Click play and enjoy the show! In this episode you’ll discover: The interesting link between thigh circumference and blood pressure. (0:57) How thigh fat and visceral fat differ. (3:52) Which muscles make up half of the muscle mass in your body. (4:40) How the strength of your quads can predict your longevity. (5:18) The connection between leg power and cognitive health. (6:40) What the largest skeletal muscle is. (10:23) The role your glutes play in glucose disposal and insulin sensitivity. (11:45) What your waist-to-hip ratio can tell you about your health. (14:33) The importance of training your lower body. (16:28) Specific exercises you can use to build lower body strength. (18:08) The link between adiponectin and metabolic health. (25:00) How to structure your macronutrients to build muscle. (32:06) Items mentioned in this episode include: WildPastures.com/model - Get 20% off every box plus an additional $15 off! Be sure you are subscribed to this podcast to automatically receive your episodes: Apple Podcasts Spotify Soundcloud Pandora YouTube This episode of The Model Health Show is brought to you by Wild Pastures. Get 100% grassfed and finished beef, pasture raised chicken, and other nutrient dense, regenerative meats. Sign up with my link to get 20% of for life, plus an additional $15 off your first box at wildpastures.com/model.

Transcript

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0:00.0	You are now listening to The Model Health Show with Sean Stevenson.
0:04.8	For more, visit themodelhealthshow.com.
0:09.7	Welcome to the model health show.
0:11.3	This is nutritionist, research scientists, and bestselling author, Sean Stevenson,
0:15.5	and I've got an incredible show in store for you today.
0:18.9	Finally, science has answered the burning question. Can thick thighs
0:23.7	really save lives? Researchers analyze the body composition of nearly 10,000 people to see if where
0:30.4	they stored their body fat and their muscle made a difference in their health outcomes. Right out of the
0:35.8	gate, the scientists affirm what the established science already knows. When someone is overweight, a small thigh circumference is associated
0:43.3	with an increased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and total mortality. And now the researchers
0:50.6	set out to determine if thicker thighs can specifically influence blood pressure.
0:56.9	The study cited in the journal Indocrine Connections investigated the association between
1:01.8	thigh circumference and blood pressure in a population of nearly 10,000 men and women aged 40 or
1:07.9	older. And the scientist found that if you take two people who might be the same
1:12.3	weight and the same body mass index, the one with the thicker thighs is protected against
1:19.1	hypertension. They have metabolic protection against high blood pressure. The researcher stated,
1:26.2	quote, thigh circumference was negatively correlated with systolic blood pressure,
1:31.1	diastolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, and total cholesterol.
1:36.2	Compared with the lowest thigh circumference,
1:38.5	turtile group, the risk of hypertension was significantly lower
1:42.3	in the highest tertile group, both in overweight
1:45.7	individuals and in obese individuals, unquote. Now, why does this matter in the context of
	...

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