Before teaching women with lower body obesity how to reduce lower body fat through diet and exercise to slim their thighs, it is important to first understand the causes of lower body obesity. Women with lower body obesity should pay attention to the reasons for their thick thighs and choose suitable diets and exercises to build thigh muscle mass, saying goodbye to “elephant legs” and bulky feet!
Causes of Lower Body Obesity
This is a genetic factor causing lower body obesity. Many people inherit their parents’ body type. If both parents are of normal weight, the chance of their children being obese is only about 8%. However, if both parents are obese, the chance rises to as high as 70%. Inheriting a pear-shaped body concentrates fat cells in the lower body, especially in the inner thighs, making fat accumulation and obesity more likely.
2. Estrogen
This is another congenital reason, particularly affecting women. Women secrete more estrogen, which makes fat more likely to accumulate under the skin. Additionally, since the uterus and ovaries are located in the lower body, the body tends to store fat in the lower region to protect these organs. This leads to thigh and lower body obesity, increasing the need for weight management.
This is an acquired cause of thick thighs. Many women spend hours sitting at the office without moving or stretching their legs. Over time, poor blood circulation and tight adductor muscles make fat accumulate in the lower body, leading to lower body obesity and large thighs. Crossing legs while sitting further restricts blood and lymphatic circulation, causing water retention and edema in the thighs and lower body, making “elephant legs” almost unavoidable. Additionally, lack of exercise prevents the development of attractive leg lines.
4. High Fat and High Sugar Intake
Overeating high-fat foods and sugar can lead to fat accumulation in the thighs and lower body. Excess sugar stimulates the pancreas to produce more insulin, reducing fat metabolism and making it harder to burn lower body fat. Excess sugar is stored as fat, especially in the lower body. In short, frequent consumption of sweets and high-fat snacks contributes directly to “elephant legs.”
Eating excessive carbohydrates causes rapid blood sugar spikes, triggering insulin secretion. High insulin levels inhibit fat metabolism, allowing fat to accumulate in the lower body and thighs, causing thick legs and stiff feet. Carbohydrates also promote water retention, contributing to edema. Foods like rice, noodles, porridge, and rice noodles are common carbohydrate sources; excessive intake can worsen lower body obesity. Reducing these foods can help slim the thighs.
High-salt diets lead to sodium retention, causing the body to hold water and appear swollen. Women who do not exercise often have poor blood and lymphatic circulation in the lower body, making edema more likely. This results in larger thighs, thicker legs, and calves, and reduces the effectiveness of exercises like squats.
