Copenhagen: Curvacious women are far more healthy than their skinny counterparts, researchers in Denmark discover.

Scientists at the Institute of Preventative Medicine in Copenhagen found that women with a “toned” hour-glass figure are better at warding off the diseases of ageing than those who are very thin.

Lead researcher Professor Berit Heitmann said fat and muscle on curvier women contains a chemical, adiponectin, an anti-inflammatory, which fights heart disease and stops arteries from clogging up with fat.

The Professor stressed that it was fat on the hips rather than fat on the stomach which was beneficial.

The study looked at 50,000 men and woman.