Whether if it is the influence of social media, fashion, or societal expectations, most people fight to accept their natural body shape. For years, society imposed unattainable beauty standards, idealizing slender physiques and too often dismissing curvier physiques. What if the science were otherwise? What if having a large butt wasn't merely a matter of looks but had some unexpected health perks—ones that would make you stronger, healthier, and even smarter? Studies indicate that a more voluptuous backside isn't merely a style; it's a biological plus. From brain-enhancing advantages to improved heart health, your curves are doing you some good in ways you never thought possible. It's time to leave the insecurities behind and own the science-supported strength of your big booty!

Scientific studies indicate that where fat is deposited on your body has varying effects on your health. Contrary to visceral fat that is stored around the waist and contributes to severe health complications, fat deposited in hips, thighs, and butt is deemed favorable. This fat is referred to as subcutaneous fat, and research has indicated that it has a protective function in metabolic well-being. Additionally, scientists have discovered that people with greater lower-body fat stores have improved cardiovascular health, lower inflammation, and even greater cognitive function. Let's discuss the different science-supported advantages of having a large butt.

1. Lower Risk of Chronic Diseases

A more curvy lower body could be a protective factor against deadly diseases. A September 2020 meta-analysis in The BMJ concluded that people with a bigger hip and thigh circumference were less likely to die early in life compared to those who had fat around their waist. Fat in the buttocks releases healthy hormones, including adiponectin, which protects against heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. Furthermore, individuals who have a positive waist-to-hip ratio possess well-balanced cholesterol profiles, higher levels of good HDL cholesterol, and lower amounts of detrimental LDL cholesterol. Having such a balance decreases the risk for cardiovascular diseases and helps a person live a longer life.

2. A Brain-Boosting Advantage

Believe it or not, your big booty may be smarter than you think. A study in the International Journal of Obesity in 2010 discovered that women with bigger butts have greater amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, which are required for brain function. Omega-3s contribute to the construction of cell membranes of the brain and possess anti-inflammatory as well as antioxidant effects that facilitate mental health. For new mothers, stored fat becomes even more vital, as it delivers essential fatty acids to their infants through breast milk, adding to better brain development in kids.

3. Better Physical Performance

A strong posterior isn't all about appearance—it's the key to athletic performance. Your gluteus maximus is your body's biggest muscle, and it's what drives movements like running, stair climbing, and weightlifting. Powerful glutes give you stability, enhance balance, and create power for intense exercise. In fact, people with stronger glutes can lift more, run quicker, and excel at sports and endurance exercises. Because bigger muscles burn more calories, a strong butt also helps you keep your metabolism healthy and avoid weight gain.

4. Less Chance of Back Pain

If you have back pain, your glutes may be your best protection. Weakened or underdeveloped glutes require smaller, weaker muscles—such as those in the lower back—to overcompensate. This can result in strain, poor posture, and chronic pain. A 2015 Journal of Physical Therapy Science study discovered that people who have well-developed glutes have reduced lower back pain as a result of enhanced lumbar muscle strength and balance. Strengthening the glutes keeps the posture upright and avoids excessive stress on the spine, which makes daily functioning simpler and more pleasant.

5. Proper Posture and Core Strength

Your posterior chain of muscles, consisting of your glutes, lower back, and hamstrings, is what maintains good posture. Spending many hours sitting or living a sedentary life weakens these muscles, creating a slouching posture. But a well-conditioned butt does so naturally, supporting spinal alignment and keeping you upright and reducing lower back strain. Strong glutes can also help prevent such common postural problems as anterior pelvic tilt, where the pelvis tilts forward because of weak muscles.

6. Prevention of Leg and Knee Injuries

Your lower body strength is directly connected to injury prevention. Weak glutes cause other muscles, including hamstrings and quadriceps, to overwork and become strained, leading to risk of tears and strains. Harvard Health Publishing underlines that the stronger your butt is, it can stabilize knees, making injury to the knees, ligament, and even overuse illnesses like IT band syndrome less possible. Whether one is an athlete or simply one who loves exercising every day, well-developed glutes supply the necessary strength for your knee and legs.

7. A Natural Self-Esteem Booster

Apart from the physiological health advantages, a large booty can lead to a good self-image and mind state. Researchers indicate that self-assuredness in one's body makes an individual more susceptible to practicing healthier habits, for example, proper exercise and meeting people. Having confidence in the body can ensure better self-image, more intense relationships, and an active way of life. Rather than concentrating on unrealistic beauty standards, accepting your natural shape can allow you to choose health over pressures from society.

How to Practice Self-Love

If you are having a difficult time with your curves and you want to change, the following are simple tips to practice body acceptance:

Practice Positive Body Language: Discredit negative messages regarding your body and replace them with positive affirmations.

Be around Positive Influences: Interact with others who promote and celebrate body acceptance.

Keep An Eye On Social Media: Stop following accounts that show unrealistic body ideals and subscribe to body-positive influencers.

Dress In What Flatters Your Body: Fashioning for your body type will make you more confident and comfortable in your skin.

The next time you pass by the mirror, keep in mind that your curves are more than just an appearance—they contribute to your physical health, brawn, and even brain function. From warding off chronic disease to enhancing athletic performance and mental health, your big butt is a force to be reckoned with. Science proves that loving your natural shape is not only liberating but also key to living a long and healthy life. So, own your curves, love their benefits, and celebrate the body that carries you through each day.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the SARS-CoV-2 virus had a significant impact on the eyes, causing conjunctivitis (pink eye), with red, itchy, watery, or painful eyes.

A new study now shows that eye symptoms may also be key in understanding the severity of long COVID, a collection of symptoms that last three months or longer after your first COVID symptoms.

The new study, published in the journal Clinical Ophthalmology, showed that the new onset of eye symptoms in people with long COVID may be an indicator of more severe disease.

Also read: Long Covid Causes Lasting Brain Inflammation And Lung Injury, Reveals Study

Key Findings

Researchers from the Yale School of Medicine analyzed survey data from 595 adults who self-reported having long COVID in surveys conducted from May 2022 to October 2023. They found that nearly 60 percent of people reported new-onset of ocular symptoms.

The findings suggest that ocular symptoms in long COVID may be interpreted as vision-related manifestations that cluster with systemic post-COVID conditions. The symptoms include a new onset of :

• blurred or lost vision,
• dry eyes,
• floaters or flashes

Notably, individuals with ocular symptoms reported:

• A greater overall symptom burden,
• Financial difficulties,
• Challenges in everyday life.

Also read: Long COVID: The Story Of Those Who Are Still Dealing With Symptoms And Illnesses

What is Long COVID

Long COVID includes a wide range of symptoms or conditions that may improve, worsen, or be ongoing. While anyone who gets COVID-19 can develop Long COVID, studies have shown that some groups of people are more likely to develop Long COVID than others, including:

• Women
• People who have experienced more severe COVID-19 illness, especially those who were hospitalized or needed intensive care
• People with underlying health conditions
• People who did not get a COVID-19 vaccine

While many of the Long COVID conditions remain to be fully recognized, some people have more than one symptom that can be moderate to severe, and also impact the quality of life. According to the US CDC, they include:

• Tiredness or fatigue
• Difficulty thinking or concentrating (sometimes called “brain fog”)
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Headache
• Dizziness on standing
• Fast-beating or pounding heart (known as heart palpitations)
• Chest pain
• Cough
• Joint or muscle pain
• Depression or anxiety
• Fever
• Loss of taste or smell

A Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare has raised serious concerns about growing doctor burnout, especially among junior and senior resident doctors, and warned that it is now affecting both doctor well-being and patient safety. Noting that overworked doctors are a risk for patient safety, the panel said that fatigue-driven errors and burnout could compromise care.

To tackle this, the committee recommended that the government introduce and strictly enforce a formal “Clinical Duty Hours Regulation” policy. This should mandate fixed rest periods and monitored duty rosters, with oversight mechanisms to prevent violations, stated the panel in its 172nd report presented before the Parliament.

The recommendation comes amid growing concern over long, unregulated shifts in teaching hospitals, where residents often work extended hours with limited rest.

The panel warned that such conditions not only increase the likelihood of clinical mistakes but also contribute to burnout and mental health stress among young doctors.

What The Parliamentary Panel Said

The Panel noted that due to persistent human resource shortages, the working hours of junior and senior residents doctors often stretch from 24 to 36 hours. This increases risk of clinical errors and burnout, thereby compromising patient safety. Thus it recommended a mandatory working-hour regulatory framework:

• to minimize fatigue-induced clinical errors
• safeguard their mental and physical well-being,
• improving patient safety.

However, it noted the contractual engagement must not substitute regular appointments, as excessive reliance on contractual staff may dilute institutional accountability and continuity.

Instead, the panel has recommended adopting a "Total Support model for medical professionals" to attract and retain qualified doctors and specialists in the public health system.

Also read:India Must Integrate Technology To Build Preventive, Holistic Healthcare: Experts

What Is Clinical Duty Hours Regulation policy

The policy calls to:

• Ensure mandatory rest periods, monitored rosters.
• Ensure the presence of senior faculty in wards and in operating theatres during peak hours
• Align faculty schedules with clinical demand
• Offer Structured mentorship
• Protected teaching time for trainees to gain supervised clinical experience
• Improved working conditions, including accommodation, transportation, and administrative support, on par with the facilities afforded to senior civil servants,
• Transparent career progression with time-bound promotions.
• Integrate Yoga and the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) within the workforce to address depression and psychiatric issues.

Also read: Doctors Share Preventable Risk Factors That Can Land You in the Emergency Ward

What Is Burnout?

Burnout is distinct from depression, which influences every aspect of life and often involves persistent thoughts of hopelessness or worthlessness. Burnout typically involves limited manifestations to the work environment, although its impact can resonate into other areas.

Symptoms of Burnout

1. Exhaustion: Prolonged mental and physical depletion of your energy levels.

2. Depersonalization: Cynicism and lack of concern creep into relationships and communication.

3 Reduced Personal Achievement: Your work loses worth, and you may feel you are not up to standards, giving in to frustration and reduced originality.

These signs frequently coincide with physical signs (headaches, muscle pain, sleeplessness), emotional signs (self-doubt, loneliness, unhappiness), and behavioral signs (social withdrawal, outbursts of anger, abandonment of obligations).

Continuing the legacy of football legend Joe Thompson, his wife Chantelle revealed she is pregnant with his baby after IVF treatment using frozen embryos.

Joe Thompson died in 2025 after developing cancer for a third time - beating the illness twice.

But after the former Manchester United star was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma for a third time, which had spread to his lungs, he died aged 36.

"It just means absolutely everything. I know it's never going to replace Joe obviously. Joe's Joe. But to be able to bring his baby into the world again is beautiful," Chantelle said.

She said Joe had two visions of their family with a baby boy before he died, and he even gave her the name for the baby boy he predicted, and she got pregnant on her first attempt of IVF after he had died.

How Egg Freezing Works

Egg freezing, also known as oocyte cryopreservation, is an option that has gained significant traction in recent years. It offers women the ability to pause their biological clock and preserve the possibility of having children in the future.

Egg freezing takes a woman's unfertilized eggs from her ovaries and stores them at sub-zero temperatures to be utilized later. It is made to enable women to keep their fertility intact, especially if they are not yet ready to have a baby.

Dr. Pavithra M, Obstetrician, Gynecologist, and Infertility Specialist, told HealthandMe that the workup begins with hormone workup and evaluation of various parameters, such as age, body mass index (BMI), and ovarian reserve.

"On the second day of the menstrual cycle, baseline ultrasound scanning is performed to assess the number of follicles; thereafter, various tests of blood are conducted to assess hormone levels. If a woman's parameters are all normal, then she is administered hormonal injections for about 10-12 days."

It causes ovarian hyperstimulation and multiple mature eggs, monitored through ultrasound scans. A trigger shot is administered once the follicles have reached optimal size to help with final egg maturation. It takes 34-35 hours from the trigger shot, wherein eggs are retrieved by minimally invasive procedures under general anesthesia.

"Using a transvaginal ultrasound probe with a needle, each follicle is punctured, and the follicular fluid is aspirated. The retrieved eggs are then screened for quality before undergoing vitrification—a rapid freezing technique that minimizes ice crystal formation and cellular damage," Dr. Pavithra added. The eggs are then stored in liquid nitrogen tanks for long-term preservation.

While egg freezing is possible at various stages of life, experts recommend doing it at an optimal age -- in the late 20s or early 30s when the eggs are of higher quality-- for better outcomes.