Across Various Cultures, a Particular Body Fat Percentage in Men Firesents as the Most Appealing
A groundbreaking study led by Fan Xia at the University of Aberdeen has shed light on the biological factors that drive perceptions of male attractiveness. The research, which involved participants from China, Lithuania, and the United Kingdom, aimed to quantify the cues that influence our preferences for male physiques.
Using black-and-white DXA scans of 15 male bodies, ranging from very lean to obese, the study found that body fat percentage, or adiposity, was the strongest and most consistent predictor of male attractiveness. Participants gravitated toward bodies that were neither too thin nor too heavy, showing a clear inverted U-shape with attractiveness peaking at moderate fat levels.
The ideal body fat percentage for attractiveness in men, according to the study, is approximately 13 to 14 percent. This range corresponds with metabolically healthy levels and was consistently rated as most attractive across the culturally and socioeconomically diverse populations studied.
The preferred Body Mass Index (BMI) range corresponding to this ideal fat percentage was roughly 23 to 27. This suggests a global consensus that a moderate amount of body fat is appealing, possibly because it signals health and evolutionary fitness linked to testosterone and overall robustness.
Interestingly, the study found that humans are biologically tuned to prefer traits that signal fitness, not necessarily those that dominate fashion spreads or fitness campaigns. The findings appeared in the journal Personality and Individual Differences.
It's worth noting that in the U.S., the overall average body fat percentage is around 40% for women and 28% for men. According to the American Council on Exercise (ACE), a body fat range of 25% to 31% for women or 18% to 24% for men is typical for the average nonathlete. These bodies had BMIs in the 23 to 27 range, a category spanning what medical guidelines classify as "normal" to "slightly overweight."
However, a body fat percentage below 14% for women or 6% for men may be considered dangerously low and can lead to health risks. The researchers concluded that observers are more attuned to signs of healthy, moderate fat levels than to exaggerated muscular traits.
The study suggests a shared human tendency rather than a culture-specific bias in the preference for male bodies with moderate fat levels. In Lithuania and China, the shoulder-to-waist ratio ceased to be significant once body fat was factored in. In the UK, it retained some predictive power, though adiposity still explained more of the variation in ratings.
On average, a shoulder-to-waist ratio of 1.57 was deemed most attractive, but its influence was lesser compared to adiposity. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into human preferences for male attractiveness, highlighting the importance of health and vitality over extreme leanness or muscularity.
- The study at the University of Aberdeen has highlighted that science and research in health-and-wellness, specifically focusing on body fat percentage, is crucial in our understanding of perceptions of male attractiveness.
- The findings suggest that the evolution of human preferences is driven by signals of fitness, rather than the trends seen in fashion spreads or fitness campaigns, as indicated by the research in fitness-and-exercise and nutrition.
- As a result of the research, it appears that a healthy diet and moderate fitness-and-exercise are more significant factors in determining male attractiveness than extreme muscular traits or lean bodies.
- The study has raised awareness about the risks associated with dangerously low body fat percentages (below 14% for women or 6% for men), emphasizing the importance of maintaining a balanced, metabolically healthy body.
- The global consensus on the appeal of a moderate amount of body fat (23 to 27 BMI) underscores the notion that science continues to play a vital role in shaping our perceptions and understanding of human health and attractiveness.
