Women are often worried about their appearance, from their hair to their makeup, to everything in-between.
If you’re a woman and you’ve been worried about gaining weight, especially in your hips, you might be attempting to figure out what causes your hips to widen.
Here is a complete overview that explains the answer to this question as well as things you can do that may widen your hips if you so desire.
It is normal for a girl’s hips to widen during puberty as part of the maturation process so her body will be better able to bear children.
Surges of the hormone estrogen promote hip-widening in women so that they are at their maximum width during their peak childbearing years, which is between the ages of 20 and 30.
The larger a woman’s hips are, the easier it is for the baby to exit the birth canal.
Larger hips can also give a woman sex appeal, as many men are automatically more attracted to women with larger hips.
Higher levels of estrogen cause women to develop hourglass figures when they’re younger, but as women age, the fat is redistributed and can change a woman’s shape and cause her waist to become larger.
If you’re interested in widening your hips so they can better balance out your waist-to-hip ratio, here are some tips for achieving your goal.
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Add some new foods to your diet

Since estrogen is the hormone that promotes growth in the hips, if you are interested in increasing your hip size then you can add certain foods to your diet that naturally increase estrogen levels. These foods include:
- Rye bread, especially the dark variety
- Soy-containing foods, including tofu, miso soup, edamame, soy milk, and more
- Seeds such as flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, and sesame seeds
- Fruit like apricots, oranges, strawberries, peaches, cherries, apples, berries, and some dried fruits
- Vegetables such as garlic, yams, carrots, alfalfa sprouts, kale, and celery
- Lentils, peas, pinto beans, and chickpeas
- Olives and olive oil
- Seasonings like turmeric, thyme, and sage
It is easy to incorporate these foods into your diet by making healthy smoothies, soups, salads, and getting creative in the kitchen.
A definite plus of consuming these foods to increase your hip size is the fact that most of them taste great and are very versatile, so it shouldn’t be a huge change in your diet to add them in.
Begin a special exercise program
Certain exercises can boost estrogen levels, like HIIT, or high-intensity interval training.
This type of estrogen-boosting exercise is done by exercising at a high intensity for approximately one minute or so.
During this period of time, you will exercise until you reach your maximum heart rate and then take a break afterward for approximately 30 seconds.
As an alternative that is more intense, you may also opt to exercise at a much lower rate after a minute rather than taking a break. Either way is an effective way to perform HIIT.
You can repeat the HIIT as many times as you desire. You can start out at a low number and slowly increase your repetitions while you built up your strength and stamina.
There are also some other exercises that have been proven to effectively widen the hips. These exercises include side leg raises, squat kicks, and even certain yoga poses.
This is not an exhaustive list, and you can find many additional exercises by performing further research.
Take Vitamin E supplements

This fat-soluble vitamin is heavily involved in the detoxification process of the hormone estrogen.
Vitamin E has the ability to regulate estrogen levels within the body, and if levels are too low, Vitamin E can promote an increase. Alternatively, if they’re too high, this vitamin can effectively lower estrogen levels.
Vitamin E can be purchased at any pharmacy or health food store, and dosages vary, so you will have to determine which dose works best for you.
Lose some weight if you’re overweight or obese
If you’re trying to achieve that curvy look where your waist cinches in and your hips are wider and you’re overweight, losing weight can help you achieve your goal.
You might be worried about losing weight in your hip area, and you likely will, but the loss of weight in your waist and abdominal areas is what is more important.
The more weight you lose, the more likely you will be to lose weight in your abdominal area, which will bring you closer to achieving your goal.
Try some phytoestrogenic herbal supplements

There are certain herbs that can work wonders for boosting estrogen levels. One herb in particular, Black Cohosh, can help to regulate estrogen levels.
Like Vitamin E, instead of simply increasing your estrogen levels, Black Cohosh will regulate them and increase them only if they’re too low.
If your estrogen levels are too high, Black Cohosh will also lower them appropriately.
Black Cohosh is a very potent herb that has been used for years to induce labor, enhance fertility, and more.
It is also a popular herb recommended to women experiencing uncomfortable menopausal symptoms, as it can alleviate some of the discomforts due to the ability of this herb to increase estrogen levels.
You should seek the guidance of an experienced and trained herbalist before adding Black Cohosh to your regime.
If you choose to try Black Cohosh on your own, it can be purchased from any pharmacy or health food store and is very inexpensive.
Consider acupuncture
Acupuncture is an ancient practice that works wonders at improving a number of ailments, including boosting estrogen and other hormone levels.
While you won’t visit an acupuncturist and request that they help you grow your hips, you can request assistance with balancing your hormone levels, with an emphasis on boosting your estrogen.
The acupuncturist may want to know if you’re trying to become pregnant or alleviate some uncomfortable symptoms associated with your menstrual cycle.
You should answer all the questions honestly, and then the acupuncturist can assist you.
Sit more often

Studies have shown that the more you sit on your buttocks, the more your butt and hips will widen.
By sitting, fat buildup occurs in the butt and hip areas, naturally increasing their size.
Fat cells that are condensed for long periods of time will produce even more fat cells at a faster rate than other fat cells. This is how sitting increases buttocks and hip size.
Get pregnant and give birth
While you certainly don’t want to become pregnant and give birth just so you can increase your hip size, as long as a child is something that you desire, you will certainly achieve your goal of growing your hips by becoming pregnant.
However, once you’ve given birth, there is no guarantee that your hips will remain larger, as some women’s hips will return to their pre-pregnancy size after giving birth.
However, if you want to become a parent, then it’s certainly worth a shot.
Consider getting a new wardrobe

By dressing a certain way, you can bring more emphasis to your hips while bringing less to your waist, which can help you achieve the look you’re seeking.
If you’re not sure which outfits will work best, you can go to some of your favorite stores and try on some different outfits.
You might also opt to conduct some research online that describes the best combinations of shirts, dresses, skirts, and pants to help you achieve a sexier, more hourglass look.
Some store clerks may even be willing to provide you with assistance.
As you can see, it is a normal part of being a woman to experience widening hips.
However, if you feel your hips aren’t as wide as you would like them to be, there are some easy ways to widen them.
You should keep in mind that manipulating your natural hormone levels might sound harmless, but too-high estrogen levels have been implicated in breast, ovarian, and other types of female-related cancers.
For this reason, it is a good idea to have regular checkups to ensure your hormone levels are ideal for keeping you as healthy as possible while looking and feeling your absolute best.