Why can an elf never become overweight?
Elves and human share many similarities, from body type to the ability to perform magic. However, elves retain a slim, lean build throughout their life, and are incapable of becoming obese. The biggest they could get would be that of a swimmer's body, toned and lightly muscled. This is true regardless of how much they consume. My original hypothesis for this was "because magic", but humans are able to match them in this regard. What biological reason would there be for elves not being able to become fat?
This post was sourced from https://worldbuilding.stackexchange.com/q/104487. It is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
1 answer
Hyperthyroidism
It is a pathological condition caused by over-activity of the thyroid gland. The symptoms include Weight loss, sometimes significant, may occur despite a good appetite.
There is a number of known causes for this condition in humans, several of which are genetic. However, simple inflammation due, perhaps, to the habitat is also a possible cause, suggesting that elves may gain weight if they abandon their forests rich in thyroid-irritating spores.
0 comment threads
0 comment threads