There are many people who can't lose weight no matter how much they exercise. Especially, fat accumulated in the lower body is hard to lose, which can be concerning. However, the posture one habitually adopts can contribute to gaining more weight and make it appear that way. I looked into postures that induce lower body obesity.

Crossing legs

The habit of crossing legs makes the legs thicker. Crossing legs causes the pelvis to tilt, disrupting blood circulation from the hips to the lower body. Poor blood circulation leads to the accumulation of waste and fat, making the legs thicker. If crossing legs has already become a habit, the knees should be positioned slightly higher than the hips. When sitting in front of a desk, placing a footrest under the chair and resting your feet on it is effective. Keeping the space between the desk and chair as close as possible and using armrests to distribute weight through the arms also helps prevent the habit of crossing legs.

Cross-legged sitting

Sitting cross-legged with both legs folded also causes lower body obesity. Frequently sitting in a cross-legged position or sitting for long periods in that posture reduces blood flow in the legs, leading to poor delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the nerves. The cross-legged posture is also harmful to knee joint and spinal health because it excessively bends the knees beyond 130 degrees, putting pressure on the cartilage between the knee bones. To avoid the cross-legged posture, it is better to sit on a chair rather than on the floor. When sitting on a chair, keep your hips close to the backrest and straighten your back. If your feet do not touch the ground, it is advisable to use a footrest to keep your feet supported.

◇ Standing on one leg

A one-legged stance that puts weight on only one leg causes the thighs, hips, and other lower body areas to become thicker. This is because the pelvis tilts and the left and right heights become uneven, leading to imbalanced development of the thigh muscles. When the balance of the body’s left and right sides is disrupted, blood circulation and lymph flow in the lower body become stagnant. As a result, unnecessary waste products are not expelled, leading to lower body obesity. If you have a habit of standing with one leg crossed over the other, it is necessary to check your posture frequently. Ensure that weight is evenly distributed on both feet, keep both legs straight, and correct your posture so that your waist remains upright.