Bad Apple, Nice Pear

‘WHEN Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow named their first child Apple, people scoffed.

‘A forward tuck with full pike and belly flop’

But now it seems that, rather than indulging a curious celebrity habit to saddle your child with an absurd name, Chris and Gwyn were just describing their offspring’s future shape.

According to a survey reported in the Guardian, more and more of us have lost our traditional pear-shaped figure and have started to resemble an apple instead.

And far from an apple a day keeping the doctor away, an apple profile means a higher risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and diabetes.

Apple shapes, which are defined by a waist to hop ratio of 0.95 and above for a man and 0.85 and above for a woman, are particularly prevalent among northern men.

Men in North-West England have the highest such ratio, while only those in East Anglia and the South-East retain a pear profile.

Northern Irish women are the most apple-shaped, while women in the South-East are comfortably the most pear-shaped.

Dietician Jacqueline Hewitt said exercise was the best way to reverse the trend.

‘Try aerobics, yoga, pilates and exercises such as sit-ups and curls to convert your apple into a pear,’ she says.

You will notice the benefits immediately – comments like ‘Phwoar! Look at the pear on her!’ are sure to bring a smile to your face…’

Posted: 19th, October 2004 | In: Uncategorized Comment | TrackBack | Permalink