"Mona Lisa, an Obese and High Cholesterol Patient?"... Medical Community Explains the Analysis

Uneven Skin Tone and Lumps on Hands Cited as Evidence
"Natural Changes After Childbirth" Also Suggested

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An intriguing analysis from the UK medical community suggests that the woman depicted in Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" may have suffered from health issues such as obesity and high cholesterol.

Michael Yafi, Professor of Pediatric Endocrinology at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, recently presented these research findings at the annual congress of the European Association for the Study of Obesity.

Professor Yafi argued that Lisa del Giocondo, an Italian noblewoman from Florence and the wife of a merchant, who is believed to be the real-life model for the Mona Lisa, may have been overweight or obese, with a high body mass index (BMI).

He suggested that the uneven skin tone and small lumps visible on the back of Mona Lisa's hands could indicate hypercholesterolemia and hypothyroidism. However, he emphasized that, since it is impossible to directly examine a historical patient, these are inferences based on visual clues observed in the artwork.

At the same time, Professor Yafi also introduced the perspective that these features should be seen as natural physical changes, rather than being medically overinterpreted. He said, "The most plausible explanation is that her weight increased temporarily after childbirth," noting, "At the time the portrait was created, she was already the mother of four children."

This study also highlighted how perceptions of obesity have evolved over time. Professor Yafi explained that historically, higher body weight was not viewed negatively as it is today; rather, it was considered a symbol of wealth and social status.

In fact, musicians such as Bach and Handel were also portrayed as overweight in portraits from their era, and it is highly likely that their loss of vision in old age was a complication of type 2 diabetes. Professor Yafi stated, "In the past, it was common to depict people of high social status, such as royalty, religious figures, and members of the upper class, as having a robust physique."

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