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What Makes Women Attractive?

What do Kate Winslet, Venus Williams, and Jodie Kidd all have in common? They all have a BMI of around 21. Elizabeth Hurley sits at around 16.

According to research carried out at Newcastle University - there is a "perfect" BMI for a woman. Perfect - as in the most attractive to men.

In Britain, the most attractive BMI was found to be 20.85. In Malaysia the figure was marginally higher. The results also showed that attractiveness dropped quickly either side of the 20.85 figure.

Previously, waist-to-hip ratio was thought of as the attraction factor - but these researchers conclude that "BMI is even more critical, accounting for 75 per cent of body attractiveness." What's more being over this figure is "more attractive" than being under.

So while an obese woman was only half as attractive as a woman with the perfect BMI, skinnier women were rated even lower.

So much for skinny celebrities being the "measure" of an attractive ideal.

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82 Comments

Keith

hmm... I always had a soft spot for women at about 26 BMI (i actually figured it out, hooray for me!)

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SkinnyGirl?

I actually lost some weight recently and went from a BMI of 22.9 to a BMI of 19.9. And I can tell you, all I can hear from others is how I need to gain weight, especially my fiance who insists I looked better before, and lets me know that he's not as attracted to me.

So, it all really depends on who you're asking, and apparently skinnier isn't always considered more attractive, especially with men.

But really, I am much more comfortable with the weight I'm at now, and don't plan on losing any more. I don't feel as if I look unhealthy, and other than working out to gain some muscle I wouldn't change anything. I actually feel good about what I see in the mirror, for the first time in years. So, really as long as you're healthy, and like what you see, I think that is all that matters because in the end, you're the only one who has to live with you're body.


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Spectra

Hmm, that's really cool. A lot of women think "thinner=more attractive", but that isn't the case. I think most models look kinda weird and my husband thinks they look like heroin addicts, not gorgeous women. Men like women with a BODY...I don't think that's really news to them though.

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John

When you say BODY in capitals, I guess you mean quite a big body. Not real waist, No proportions etc.

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farzad

HI
I am male and I want to learn process telepathy for attractive people and learning process magnatic my eye.
THANK YOU.

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AP

I wonder if they mean Serena Willliams rather than Venus. Venus is tall and think while Serena carries more fat than Venus does. Whichever it is, both tennis players are healthy and vibrant.

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Giftman

Sharm and body style make woman attractive, firstly body of cource

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magmem

I think the same qualities in both man and woman are attracted to each other. These are a few of many: the face, body, hair, personality, sense of humor, intelegence, and confidence; they can be observed from afar and a good companion and stability is found out only with time.

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Sorenth

What do you find attracts you to women? Their body? Thin, or do most men like women with curves? If your girlfriend gained weight and filled out, would you still find her attractive? Do you mind a little facial hair, or do they have to model material?

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Jan

I doubt there is a perfect BMI that looks the best for everyone. Glamour had a bunch of women who were the same height and weight, thus same BMI, and they ranged in looks from skinny to athletic to plump. People don't weigh perspective partners, they look at them, and BMI 20.85 can look very different in different people. You also have to account for personal preferences.

I'm not even gonna go into the whole personality thing.

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emmy

i wonder how it can be possible...

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Yan

Just one problem: body mass index is pretty unreliable. Muscle mass much???
I find that to be stupid... and slightly offensive. Frankly, if all people with the same bmi looked the same, it would make sense. The whole fertility thing is driving me nuts but it's the truth.
Although I'm female, I find the heroin addict look kind of endering in a tortured-aryist kind of way. Possibly because I have it so I'm biased. Then again maybe I have it because I like it and not the other way around. I don't know. My point is above if anyone cares(the last paragraph was more of a rant).

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Tara

I don't really understand it - when I was a BMI 21, my periods became irregular and my sister told me how ill and weak I was looking (bearing in mind that she was used to a plump and cheerful me).

But then again, I lost those 13 lbs in 6 weeks by reducing my food by 50%, it was actual deprivation. Now, I'm wondering, if I was to lose that amount in 12 weeks or longer, and end up having that 'ideal' BMI, would my periods still be irregular?

I'm currently on a healthy eating (shall I say?) diet and I'm losing weight slowly. My main focus is to correct my eating for life - make sure I'm not addicted to junk food and to not eat such huge portions and not comfort eat - and so, I probably will end up being a 21 on the BMI scale. I guess I want to make sure my periods are ok while at the same time trying to have the figure I've always wanted. Is it possible?

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Jan

Tara, I think it depends on person to person. For myself, I find that right around BMI 22.5, in the exact middle (if you consider the old 20-24.9 standards, not the new 18.5-24.9) is where I look my best. At 21, since I have a large build, I look a bit unproportional, with a face that is too skinny for my body.

Maybe being 21 now with more muscle will make you look very different from when you weighed that before.

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jen

I think that BMI is very very limited. I think it very much has to do with fat percentage. I am 5"8 and weight 59kgs, my bmi is 19.8. I have a lot of flabby bits and its disgusting. Men say they dont want sticks, which i believe but they certainly dont want wobbly bits.
Tight toned that is what men want- anna kornicova (sorry for spelling) is considered a "bigger" girl yes, but she has a bmi of 18??? It is because she is toned.

Swim ware models are (what I'd expect) men to be most attracted too. I don't think many men can deny that.

These are simple facts. Men - look at the bmi of the women who you believe is the most attractive in the world.

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Jan

Jen, I think you see yourself as much worse than you really are. You are trying to achieve a level of perfection that only exists with Photoshop. Swimsuit models don't look like swimsuit models without photoshopping.

I also think you are selling men short. Most men are attracted to a variety of body types and shocker, some of them even consider personality part of the package too.

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Stacie

Okay - one thing I had a problem with was that I assure you - if Elizabeth Hurley's bmi was 16 she would book dead or attached to a feeding toob. It is definitely above 18. I'm not a fan of the stick thin look either but based on the fact that guys seem to think victoria secret girls gorgeous, they are very far from 20.85. What source polled this?

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Nichole

Im really happy the perfect bmi is 20.85. i was happy to find out that im the perfect bmi im 5ft6.5 and weigh 131 pounds i always thought i was chubby but i guess i was wrong :) hehe. i mean obviously guys prefer slim girls if the perfect bmi is 20.85 thats on the lil side

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Created / Updated: November 8, 2011

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