The debate over whether women prefer dad bods or muscular physiques on men has raged on for years. While conventional wisdom used to unambiguously declare that women love six-pack abs and big biceps, there has been a rising appreciation for the dad bod in recent years. So which body type do women really find sexiest today – the sculpted fitness model or the cuddly teddy bear? Let’s analyze the latest research and survey data to definitively answer this question once and for all.
Dad Bod Appreciation
The term “dad bod” first entered the pop culture lexicon in 2015 when a college student wrote a tongue-in-cheek ode celebrating the slightly flabby physique of the typical father. While the author proposed the dad bod as an anti-aesthetic – a look achieved by letting yourself go – the concept clearly resonated with many as it went viral.
The dad bod represents a relatively new body ideal that values a certain softness and naturalness over the unattainable rock-hard abs of traditional masculine beauty standards. While still recognizably masculine, the dad bod doesn’t require the intense dieting and workout regimes of bodybuilder physiques. It instead revels in a little extra belly pudge and loves handles.
Several surveys and studies in the past 5 years have suggested that significant numbers of women do indeed find the dad bod attractive:
Key Research Findings
| Year | Survey | Key Finding |
| 2019 | Planet Fitness | 61% of women said they find dad bods attractive |
| 2020 | Kelton Global | 49% of women said they would rather date someone with a dad bod |
| 2021 | OnePoll | 70% of women said they find dad bods sexy |
These surveys uniformly point to dad bods being considered attractive by significant percentages of the female population today. The appeal seems to come from their cuddliness, naturalness, and contrast to overly self-conscious gym culture. The message is that women want to date regular, grounded guys they can relate to – not fitness models.
Muscular Physique Appeal
At the same time, it would be incorrect to claim that all women are eschewing traditionally masculine muscular builds. Plenty of ladies still find six-packs and biceps very hot.
Some key reasons why muscles continue to attract women:
Signs of Strength and Virility
Visible muscularity and leanness have always been tied to male sexuality and mating success. Bulging muscles imply vitality, strength, energy – all evolutionarily desirable traits.
Aesthetic Appeal
Muscles catch the eye. Their sculpted striations and dramatic shaping attract visual attention. For women who appreciate aesthetic male beauty, muscles deliver.
Discipline and Work Ethic
A very muscular physique requires intense commitment, discipline, work ethic, and consistency. Demonstrating these attractive masculine qualities is a plus.
Pop Culture Ideals
Male celebrities, influencers, and athletes constantly reference the muscular ideal. This normalizes it and equates muscles with sexiness.
Some research confirming ongoing female appreciation of male muscularity:
| Year | Study | Key Finding |
| 2016 | UCLA | Women rate muscular men as sexier than skinny or overweight men |
| 2017 | Griffith University | The most attractive male bodies contain about 90% muscle mass |
| 2020 | PNAS | Women perceive muscular men as more dominant and sexually attractive |
These findings reinforce that many ladies continue to be drawn to conventionally masculine traits like height, leanness, and muscle mass.
Preferences Vary by Age and Relationship Stage
Younger Women Prefer Muscles
Research generally shows that younger women tend to find more muscular men maximally attractive. For example, a 2016 study from UCLA found women ages 16-19 rated extremely muscular men as the most appealing.
Some potential reasons:
– Younger women are attracted to signs of male virility
– Muscles align with pop culture sex symbols
– Younger women tend to desire short-term relationships where physical appeal is prioritized over other traits
Older Women Lean Toward Dad Bods
As women age, their preferences appear to gradually shift away from the hyper-muscular and toward the dad bod:
– Women may begin to favor intimacy, relationships and emotional connection over raw sexuality
– Women gain more body positivity with age and appreciate normal bodies
– They may seek companionship with someone at similar life stage
Long-Term Relationships Favor Dad Bods
Women seeking a serious partner tend to rate dad bods as more attractive than hookups:
– Muscles are perceived as vain for long-term partners
– Dad bods exude stability and maturity desired in marriage
– Comfort, cuddliness, and relating become more important than hotness
So while muscles may hold more appeal for casual short-term arrangements, the dad bod tends to win out for securing a girlfriend or wife.
Conclusion
It’s clear that both muscularity and the dad bod have their demographic appeal with women today. While young, unattached women skew toward conventional masculine ideals, there is a rising appreciation for normal, natural male bodies as women age or seek committed relationships.
Ultimately, it’s about balance. Getting into reasonable shape shows self-care without the obsessiveness of bodybuilder-level training. A touch of belly pooch brings that cuddliness factor without total self-neglect. Moderate exercise plus a reasonably healthy diet seems the winning formula for the most attractive male physique according to today’s women. It’s not all about rock-hard abs or letting yourself go completely to seed either. Each woman has her own preferences, so as with most things, moderation and being comfortable in your own skin seem the most broadly appealing approaches.
References
UCLA Study on Women’s Preferences in Male Bodies:
https://www.livescience.com/5552-taller-men-shorter-women-attractive.html
Planet Fitness Survey on Dad Bod Appeal:
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/planet-fitness-survey-reveals-61-find-dad-bods-are-the-new-six-pack-300810560.html
OnePoll Survey Showing Women Prefer Dad Bods:
https://nypost.com/2021/03/18/70-percent-of-women-prefer-dad-bods-to-six-packs-survey/
Study on Men’s Muscles and Sexual Attractiveness:
https://www.pnas.org/content/117/31/18651
Griffith University Research on Optimal Male Body Composition:
https://www.griffith.edu.au/news/2017/05/01/what-women-want-muscles
Kelton Global Survey on Dad Bod Popularity:
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-dad-bod-is-alive-and-well-new-survey-reveals-70-of-women-find-the-dad-bod-most-attractive-human-body-type-301079489.html