Steatopygia

Steatopigic woman of the Khoikhoi tribe (hotentotes).

The steatopygia (from the Greek στέαρ, stear, steatos 'fat', and πυγή pygē 'buttock ') is the condition by which large amounts of fat accumulate in the buttocks, more frequent in women than in men. Traditionally, it has been associated with fertility, as seen in the Venus of Willendorf and other steatopygic Venuses.

There is a genetic predisposition to steatopygia in certain African tribes such as the Bushmen and the Hottentots, among whom it is considered an attractive aesthetic value. It is believed that this phenomenon occurs as an adaptation to avoid heat loss from the rest of the body.