Carlos Solis
The “dad bod,” a soft, relaxed silhouette, used to be widely admired. But a new survey commissioned by SoloFun shows that women are increasingly choosing leaner, more athletic bodies, while men still tend to prefer softer, rounder female shapes.
Sex Differences and Healthy Body-Fat Ranges
For men, the most attractive range was about 15% body fat—a lean but athletic look. The second choice was 20% body fat, third was 25%, and the least popular option in the sample was 35%.
For female bodies, the most attractive option was roughly 30% body fat, which produces a softer, rounder figure. The second choice for female bodies was 25%, and the least popular option in the sample was 45%.
Remember that body-fat percentage looks different on men and women. Women naturally carry more essential fat, so about 15% body fat on a man appears athletic and toned, while 15% on a woman is very low and can sometimes cause hormonal symptoms.
The study and experts give broad guidelines: men are often considered healthy at about 10–20% body fat, while women are often healthy around 20–30%. That means 15% on a man typically looks “athletic and healthy,” whereas 30% on a woman can look “curvy and attractive.”
What Shapes Attraction Between the Sexes
Researchers offer different theories about why people prefer certain body types. For example, Yale anthropology professor Richard Bribiescas has suggested that some women choose men with a “dad bod” because that body type may signal longer survival, better gene transmission, and stronger resistance to disease.
Other studies show that perceptions of male attractiveness depend not only on muscle but also on proportions and height. Researchers find that a higher shoulder-to-hip ratio and developed shoulders and torso increase a man’s attractiveness, yet that effect interacts with height: short stature can offset the advantage of large muscle mass.
Science-Backed Traits Women Find Attractive
- Popularity. A man seems more desirable when other women clearly find him attractive; that suggests he’s a reliable partner.
- Material status. Financial stability matters for many women when evaluating a potential partner; women tend to be more sensitive to income than men.
- Muscles and shape. In several studies, men with developed musculature and broad shoulders received higher attractiveness ratings—especially when those men were tall.
- Intelligence. For some people, intellect matters more than looks—a trait researchers refer to as sapiosexuality.
Based on reporting in the Daily Mail
