2026-05-25 11:03:40
The Mona Lisa may have been overweight and suffering from health problems, according to a leading obesity expert.
Dr Michael Yafi claims the iconic figure painted by Leonardo da Vinci in the early 1500s likely had high cholesterol and an underactive thyroid.
The masterpiece, believed to depict Florentine noblewoman Lisa del Giocondo, wife of a wealthy silk merchant, hangs in Paris’ Louvre Museum and has fascinated generations with her enigmatic expression.
But Dr Yafi believes clues in the painting point to possible medical conditions.
He said: “Lisa is shown with excessive body fat.
“There are many theories about her and the most recent paper was basically that she had a problem with her body mass index (BMI) and severe hypothyroidism.
“We don’t know because we cannot go back and make a diagnosis, we are just analysing her features.”
The children’s medical specialist from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston said her uneven skin tone and a visible lump on her hand may indicate high cholesterol.
However, he suggested there could be a simpler explanation for her fuller figure.
Dr Yafi added: “A simpler explanation is that she had put on weight in pregnancy. After all, she’d had four children by this time.”
Speaking at the European Congress on Obesity in Istanbul, Turkey, Dr Yafi said body size was viewed very differently centuries ago.
He explained: “Obesity has an interesting history. Although currently it might be looked at in a negative way, in the past it was not.
“Strong men, leaders, royal families, religious people, high people in the society were portrayed with high BMI.”
He also pointed to portraits of composers Bach and Handel, suggesting their larger frames and later vision loss may have indicated Type 2 diabetes.
And the doctor believes changing beauty trends could influence future art too.
He said: “The face can develop an aged or tired look due to rapid fat loss in the cheeks, temples, and under-eye areas.
“I am sure that if Picasso had been alive today, he would have painted it.”
Visit Bang Bizarre (main website)
