January 2021 PMID 33258218

Upper Paleolithic Figurines Showing Women with Obesity may Represent Survival Symbols of Climatic Change.

Richard J Johnson, Miguel A Lanaspa, John W Fox

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Mentions

Peak: 33 in Dec 2020

across 7 sources since Dec 2020

Extended reach

179,239

potential audience

Total likes

2,990

Video views

51,000

Mentions per month

Dec 2020 – Dec 2025

Where it's discussed

X / Twitter43 posts
Facebook16 posts
News6 articles
YouTube2 videos
Reddit2 posts
TikTok1 posts
Blogs1 articles

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The overall discussions reflect moderate agreement with the study's interpretation, with examples like posts emphasizing the survival symbolism of obese figurines and debates about their cultural meaning and body ideals, showing curiosity and critical thinking about the role of climate in shaping human representation and symbolism.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions seem to support the idea that these figurines symbolize survival and resilience during harsh climates, indicating general agreement.

InterestModerate interest

Participants show a moderate level of interest by engaging with the implications of climate change on historical body representations.

EngagementModerate engagement

Posts demonstrate engagement through debates about symbolism, body image meanings, and implications for understanding prehistoric cultures.

ImpactModerate impact

The discussions suggest a moderate impact on perspectives of ancient societies and cultural symbolism, though not groundbreaking for broader science or societal change.

Abstract in brief

The study suggests that Paleolithic Venus figurines depicting obese or pregnant women may symbolize survival and fertility during harsh climatic conditions, specifically during the glacial periods when human populations faced significant stress.
Researchers found that the more obese figurines are typically from sites closer to advancing glaciers, indicating a possible connection between obesity in these figurines and regions experiencing severe cold and resource scarcity.
The hypothesis is that during times of nutritional stress caused by climate change, an overnourished woman represented an ideal of survival and resilience, making such figurines meaningful cultural symbols in Paleolithic Europe.

Read the full abstract

All mentions

Venus Of Hohle Fels | OBESITY Desirable 40,000 Years Ago?

History with Kayleigh · Nov 17, 2021 38,415 views

Origins and Significance of Paleolithic Venus Figurines

Venus figurines are fascinating artifacts from the Paleolithic era. This video explores their creation, potential symbolic meanings related to survival and fertility during harsh climatic conditions, and their cultural…

Yaz Likes Old Stuff · Oct 24, 2021 11,993 views

Paleolithic Venus Figurines: Symbols of Fertility and Survival

This video explores the significance of Paleolithic Venus figurines, which often depict obese or pregnant women. These figurines may symbolize fertility, resilience, and survival during harsh climatic periods…

preiSTORIE · Jan 19, 2021 593 views

Blessed Are The Peacemakers

@beamon_ricky · X

Braids go back 30,000 years I don't believe anyone can copyright them. https://t.co/gILZiNvweT https://t.co/ixRmbgUiW4

Dec 6, 2025 · 1 like · 1,589 followers View post →

fluffyちゃん

@PomPomPuppy1 · X

@memeticsisyphus Upper Paleolithic Figurines Showing Women with Obesity may Represent Survival Symbols of Climatic Change https://t.co/rT8mxnwWYY I think there is a commonality in some ways. https://t.co/iKsghl33xE

May 7, 2025 · 428 followers View post →

TaNaisha NOT MILD Lee Garrett

@TaNaishaJ · X

1/2 Upper Paleolithic Figurines Showing Women with Obesity may Represent Survival Symbols of Climatic Change - Johnson - 2021 - Obesity - Wiley Online Library https://t.co/jLP0e8P5PH

Jan 30, 2025 · 2,595 followers View post →

imw1tcher

@imw1tcher · X

منابع https://t.co/Xmcg0EclTr https://t.co/037k7f3ZDR https://t.co/XNRw8lO7vS

Oct 14, 2024 · 4 likes · 118 followers View post →

ruadhan1334

@ruadhan1334 · X

@DreamLeaf5 @SocDemLad There's no reason to believe paleolithic ppl thought this body type was "sexy." They likely represented pregnancy, were thus fertility charms, and being anachronistically dubbed "Venus figurines" in the 19th Century has lost the broader meaning it once had https://t.co/99aQvCmXno

Jan 3, 2024 · 1 like · 524 followers View post →

ruadhan1334

@ruadhan1334 · X

@IdiditagainR4D @BigChromie @DreamLeaf5 @SocDemLad There's no reason to believe that they thought this body type was "sexy." They likely represented pregnancy, were thus fertility charms, and being anachronistically dubbed "Venus figurines" in the 19th Century has lost the broader meaning it once had. https://t.co/99aQvCmXno

Jan 3, 2024 · 524 followers View post →

jan verpooten

@janverpooten · X

@nntaleb It' not so black and white, nature or nurture, it can be both biological and variable, for instance. E.g. venus figurines voluptuousness may covary with nutritional availability https://t.co/VYpMuQlRhW

May 18, 2022 · 1 like · 250 followers View post →

Moeka Iida

@moekaimnida · X

Would climate change impact our ideals about body shape?☀️ A new study suggests the voluptuous "Venus figurines" were totems of survival as humans 38,000-14,000 years ago struggled with colder temperatures due to advancing glaciers.❄️ https://t.co/db5bJUy4Xw https://t.co/JRyqvOfQk8

Dec 31, 2021 · 284 followers View post →

Ari

@agroira · X

https://t.co/Jry98O1alm

Sep 22, 2021 · 84 followers View post →

おやつMaster（考古学のおやつ）

@OyatsuMaster · X

May 3, 2021 · 3 likes · 4,268 followers View post →

géo croiseur

@neogeocroiseur · X

Upper Paleolithic Figurines Showing Women with Obesity may Represent Survival Symbols of Climatic Change <<https://t.co/h8denuXtok>>

Dec 25, 2020 · 490 followers View post →

Rimpas Ath. Asterios

@RimpasA · X

Upper Paleolithic Figurines Showing Women with Obesity may Represent Survival Symbols of Climatic Change https://t.co/qS8vnRdpZR

Dec 24, 2020 · 1,579 followers View post →

Marcelo Mario Avellanal Leal

@parreshia · X

RT @ObesitySociety: Check out #ObesityJournal article "Upper Paleolithic Figurines Showing Women with Obesity may Represent Survival Symbo…

Dec 9, 2020 · 1 share · 1,996 followers View post →

The Obesity Society

@ObesitySociety · X

Check out #ObesityJournal article "Upper Paleolithic Figurines Showing Women with Obesity may Represent Survival Symbols of Climatic Change." Read today https://t.co/zhEiiwdpXT

Dec 9, 2020 · 5 likes · 1 share · 34,088 followers View post →

Crónica de Arqueología

@ivandiazsm · X

Upper Paleolithic Figurines Showing Women with Obesity may Represent Survival Symbols of Climatic Change https://t.co/mD0JqtMF6j

Dec 7, 2020 · 1 like · 22,272 followers View post →

Gastón F Rodríguez

@GastonFRodrigu1 · X

las Venus serían un símbolo de supervivencia frente a un invierno implacable. La figura voluptuosa de estas estatuillas podría ser indicador, por lo tanto, de periodos de hambruna prolongados. https://t.co/vjCxejxpN5

Dec 7, 2020 · 1,151 followers View post →

Idalina Conde

@CondeIdalina · X

Upper Paleolithic Figurines Showing Women with Obesity may Represent Survival Symbols of Climatic Change https://t.co/JEpyv8Bgtx

Dec 5, 2020 · 1 like · 1,147 followers View post →

Giorgio Bertini

@gfbertini · X

Upper Paleolithic Figurines Showing Women with Obesity may Represent Survival Symbols of Climatic Change | Learning Art https://t.co/73wMAIV7bK

Dec 4, 2020 · 2,265 followers View post →

Yann Klimentidis

@YKlimentidis · X

Interesting proposal and findings ... ?

Dec 4, 2020 · 116 followers View post →