Gotta love a good set of calves. Several recent studies suggest that body size, particularly height and waist-to-calf ratio, can predict how long you'll live. Research shows that shorter people tend to live longer, with each additional inch of height increasing death risk by about 2.2-percent for men and 2.5-percent for women. Scientists have found that larger body size independently reduces longevity, supporting the idea that smaller is better for human lifespan.
The big surprise is what the waist-to-calf ratio showed. People with healthy ratios averaged 2.4, while pre-diabetic patients had 2.6 and diabetics had 2.7. Muscle tissue in the calves significantly influences glucose processing and metabolic health. Other factors that predict lifespan include grip strength, which can be measured with a simple test, and overall fitness level, which appears to be more important than just being thin. In other words, there’s one more reason to not skip leg day.
Source: Daily Mail