The kind of body shape may have substantial consequences in eating disorders
Oliwia Kaczmarek
2026-03-21
1 min. read
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The researchers at Drexel University propose that a certain type of body shape can have serious implications for the development of eating disorders. Individuals with an apple-like body shape are more vulnerable to overeating and to more severe eating disorders such as bulimia or anorexia.
Apple-shaped body configuration poses health risks
Body structure affects fat distribution. Depending on the location of fat, abdominal obesity is characterized by the so-called apple shape. Individuals with this body type store more fat in the abdominal area compared to the pear shape, where fat concentrates around the hips. Researchers at Drexel University monitored over 300 adult women for two years. Every six months, they assessed their weight and body fat percentage. Based on the collected data, they concluded that women with an apple shape are more prone to eating disorders. These women exhibited lower satisfaction with their appearance, which could be a contributing factor to such disorders. However, further research is warranted in this field. Abdominal obesity in both women and men is also associated with other health risks, including metabolic disorders, cardiovascular diseases, increased risk of diabetes, and hypertension.