Scientists reveal the 'perfect' male body type for women
Ever wondered what the perfect male body type might look like? Scientists might have the answer.
You might think to yourself that a chiselled body with a six-pack is the ideal body for men, and although for some that might be true, a new study suggests otherwise.
A brand-new study says a 'dad bod,' a softer, rounder body type, is actually what women find the most attractive.
The study revealed that a body type with a little muscle and a little belly has officially taken the top spot, beating shredded physiques.
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Carried out by researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and published in Personality and Individual Differences, the study explored what kind of male body shape women prefer, and the results are 'dad bods.'
How the study was conducted
Researchers gathered 283 participants from China, Lithuania, and the UK and showed them a set of black-and-white photos of men with different BMIs (Body Mass Indexes).
Faces were blurred so people could focus just on the body shapes.
The images ranged from BMIs of 20.1 to 33.7, covering everything from lean to heavier builds.
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Participants were asked to rank the bodies based on attractiveness.
The most attractive bodies had BMIs between 23 and 27, specifically:
- China: 23.4
- Lithuania: 23.0
- UK: 26.6
For reference, a "healthy" BMI usually falls between 18.5 and 24.9.
So, the most attractive guys in this study were leaning toward what's technically considered the "overweight" zone.
"Body fat (adiposity) may be important because it is linked closely (inversely) to circulating testosterone levels and is therefore a better indicator of mate 'quality'," the researchers explained.
In other words, a bit of extra body weight might suggest better survival odds and reproductive fitness.
"The most attractive BMI in males was close to the predicted level maximizing survival," they added.
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Unfortunately, it's not quite the same story for women.
The researchers pointed out that in previous studies, men often find thinner female bodies more attractive.
So while women may be tuned in to choosing partners based on evolutionary benefits, men still tend to focus on appearance.
Source: New York Post
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