--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It certainly would have been adaptive for…" description: "\"It certainly would have been adaptive for ancestral man to have a chubby wife during stressful times of famine. Not only would she have had more calori..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d6/helen-fisher-2469_adaptive_it-certainly-would-have-been-adaptive-fo_3168148.png" --- # It certainly would have been adaptive for ancestral man to… ![“It certainly would have been adaptive for ancestral man to have a chubby wife during stressful times of famine. Not only would she have had more calories to burn, and thus more energy and endurance, but since fat stores estrogen, she would have remained fertile for longer.” quote by Helen Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d6/helen-fisher-2469_adaptive_it-certainly-would-have-been-adaptive-fo_3168148.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d6/helen-fisher-2469_adaptive_it-certainly-would-have-been-adaptive-fo_3168148.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d6/helen-fisher-2469_adaptive_it-certainly-would-have-been-adaptive-fo_3168148.png) > “It certainly would have been adaptive for ancestral man to have a chubby wife during stressful times of famine. Not only would she have had more calories to burn, and thus more energy and endurance, but since fat stores estrogen, she would have remained fertile for longer.” [Helen Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fisher/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ancestral women with extra body fat provided energy reserves and hormonal benefits, aiding survival during famine. **In simple terms:** Extra fat helped survival in hard times. Key Takeaway Recognize how biology shapes preferences. Themes evolution nutrition reproduction Mood analytical thoughtful Type anthropological scientific When to use this quote - historical diet - modern obesity - partner selection - health policy Key Concepts energy storage hormonal balance Questions to Reflect On - How do ancient preferences affect modern health? - Are we still attracted to certain body types? A Different Perspective Modern diets differ, making the advantage less relevant today. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Endurance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endurance/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Famine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/famine/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience/) [Stressful times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stressful-times/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Wife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wife/) ## Related quotes > [Life is stressful and times are tough. 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Women lost their ancient jobs as collectors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fisher/women-s-worst-invention-was-the-plow-with-the-beginning-of-plow/) [Helen Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fisher/) > [As women in industrial societies join the paid workforce, they gain the economic means to depart unhappy marriages more easily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fisher/as-women-in-industrial-societies-join-the-paid-workforce-they-gain/) [Helen Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fisher/) > [For men, being too put-together implies femininity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fisher/for-men-being-too-put-together-implies-femininity/) [Helen Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fisher/) > [Why do we feel jealousy? Therapists often regard the demon as a scar of childhood trauma or a symptom of a psychological problem. 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