Ask that question of any group of 20-something women and you can be pretty sure bums, thighs, chests and noses will be high on the list.
For most women, one or more of these troublesome body bits will be too big, too small, too flabby, too protruding or not protruding enough. And let's face it, there are plenty more where they came from.
But research suggests that maybe we should be a little more forgiving of our faults and imperfections. Studies show that many of the things we hate the most about our bodies are actually signs of good health, or have a protective effect that may help to keep us healthy in future. And that's truer for women than it is for men.
So read on and we'll tell you why you should love - or at least hate a little less - everything from chunky thighs to unsightly moles.
Big bums
If you have trouble squeezing into skinny jeans, you can at least console yourself with the fact that your big bum could help you live to a ripe old age.
Research released earlier this year by Oxford University found that the slow burning fat in hips and bums makes more of the hormone adiponectin than faster burning fat in other parts of the body. Adiponectin protects the arteries and promotes better blood sugar control and fat burning.
The researchers even said that, in future, ways might be found to redistribute more body fat to the hips and bum where it can benefit health. So there you have it. Celebrate your generous behind. It's only a matter of time before everyone will want one.
Flat chests
If you spend half the day envying your voluptuous colleagues and their ability to entrance men at 50 yards with just a flash of cleavage, rest assured that your small boobs are a health boon.
Researchers have consistently found an association between big boobs and back pain. In fact, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons found that half of the women in their study with breasts of DD size or above suffered almost constant back, shoulder or neck pain.
Even more seriously, some experts have suggested that very large breasts can make finding small tumours trickier.
Big heads
If you avoid trying on hats and worry that your head is out of proportion to your body, don't despair. Because firstly, you're probably the only one who notices. And secondly, large heads can help to protect against the worst ravages of brain degeneration later in life.
Quite simply, research published in the journal Neurology last month found that Alzheimer's sufferers with bigger heads had better memory and thinking skills than those with smaller heads.
The researchers speculate that a larger head might not only be an advantage for those suffering from disease. Larger heads might mean more brain cells in reserve - cells that can be called upon to alleviate the normal cognitive decline of ageing.
Big noses
The nose is one passageway into your body that is open and unguarded 24 hours a day. An ideal entrance, then, for all sorts of bodily baddies.
But surprisingly, the bigger the conk, the fewer the infections. Scientists at the University of Iowa found that larger noses inhale almost 7% fewer pollutants. They also deflect germs away from the mouth and could ease the effects of hay fever.
"A big nose might lower the risk of being infected," said researcher Dr Renee Anthony. "It may work for pollen, too."
Lots of moles
Beauty spots they may be, but many people with prominent moles consider them unsightly. And even worse, people with lots of moles are at greater risk of developing skin cancer.
But if you practice sensible sun health, having a high number of moles could be a very good sign indeed. It could mean that you are biologically six or seven years younger than your actual age.
A study by researchers at King's College in London found that people with more than 100 moles tended to have longer telomeres than people who had fewer than 25.
Telomeres are the bits of our DNA that tend to get shorter as we age. What that means is that moley people may retain youthful looks and delay the onset of the diseases of ageing by more than half a decade.
Big thighs
Like big bums and hips, large thighs are an unlikely health bonus. According to a Danish study of more than 3,000 people, large thighs lower your risk of heart disease.
Nobody is quite sure why, but it seems that small thighs might not have the muscle mass to deal with insulin properly, increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes and eventually heart disease.
The study found that those with a thigh circumference of 55cm or less had twice the risk of early death or serious health problems over a 12-year period than those with a circumference of 60cm or more.
So next time you're staring disconsolately in the mirror, remember that the bits you hate could be doing you the world of good.
http://style.uk.msn.com/health/articles.aspx?cp-documentid=154488269
Posted: 2010-08-27 19:07:41