The most attractive male body shape, according to many studies, is the inverted triangle (broad shoulders, narrow waist) suggesting strength, with a preference for moderate muscularity—fit, athletic (like soccer players) rather than overly bulky bodybuilders. While "dad bods" are also popular for signaling commitment, the classic strong, healthy, and functional physique, often with a flatter stomach (around 13% body fat for sustainability) and visible but not extreme muscles, is frequently rated as most desirable.
Their finding means that women prefer men whose torso has an 'inverted triangle' shape (i.e. a narrow waist and a broad chest and shoulders). This is a shape consistent with physical strength and muscle development in the upper body.
The Ideal Male Body Type According to Women (Survey Results)
"36-24-36" refers to the widely recognized (though often unrealistic) ideal measurements (in inches) for a woman's bust, waist, and hips, representing an hourglass figure that became a beauty standard in mid-20th-century popular culture, famously associated with figures like Marilyn Monroe. It signifies a balanced, curvy shape, with the bust and hips being significantly wider than a narrow waist, and is often cited in music and media.
Body Type 2: Inverted Triangle
This shape is the classic 'swimmer's physique': broad, developed chest and shoulders taper down to a narrow waist and hips. It's a rare physique to have, with just five percent of the population naturally having this figure.
Hourglass figures are often considered the "ideal" female body shape, with a balanced upper body and lower body and a narrow waist. If your bust and hips are nearly equal in size and you have a noticeable waist, you likely have an hourglass shape.
Body Shapes with the Highest Risk of Health Problems
Apple and pear body shapes tend to have the highest risk. Apples tend to be at greater risk for heart disease, diabetes, and strokes because they hold a larger amount of tummy fat.
For your appearance, a waist circumference of anywhere from 0.4–0.5 times your height will look great, and being on the narrower side might be slightly more attractive. What matters more, though, is the ratio between your waist circumference and hip circumference (study).
These are merely descriptions of how you look and are not genetic body types. In fact, there are three body type categories that you can fall into: mesomorph, ectomorph, and endomorph. They are determined by your DNA so you cannot change your body type, however you can train in a way that complements your body type.
If you want to stand out, level up, keep up with developments in the fashion industry, here's 10 tips to look better for a man.
10 Personality Traits That Attract Females to Male
Here are the clues that you're an attractive guy:
Felix, 24 percent of women said that chests were the most attractive part of mens' bodies. Another 13 percent of women stated that the stomach area was the sexiest part of a man's body. That's a whopping 37 percent of women who consider the torso the sexiest part of a man's body.
That appeal may be because the traits attributed to the Dad-Bod body type relate to long-term mating success. The Dad-Bod body is not necessarily physically attractive. But it is appealing because it evolutionarily fits in other ways with women's choices of partners for successful long-term mating.
Several studies also back these findings. One study conducted by Northwestern University's Body and Media Lab polled both men and women about what female body type men were most attracted to. Most women believed men preferred skinnier body types, but most men actually chose heavier or curvier body types.
Desirable waist size
Peak male hotness was achieved by a body fat percentage around 12%, with higher readings being worse and lower readings potentially being worse, especially if you don't have enough muscle mass. The ideal shoulder-to-waist ratio was 1.6, also known as the Golden Rule from other research.
A 36 24 36 figure is a type of hourglass figure.
The three numbers each refer to a specific measurement of a woman's body. The first is the bust, measured around the fullest point of the chest. The next measurement is the waist, which is the narrowest part of a relaxed torso.
In general, keep waist circumference to less than half your height. For example, for a 6-foot man (72 inches), a healthy waist size would be anything less than 36 inches. For a 5-foot-2 woman (62 inches), a healthy waist size would be anything less than 31 inches.
On the flip side, when a mens chest measurement soars above 46 inches, it falls into the extra-large or "big" bracket. But remember that these categories are simply a reference point and that accurate chest size measurements should be taken using a measuring tape, check my method above on how to do this accurately.
What is the size of 90cm? A waist size of 90 cm corresponds to approximately 35.4 inches. This size typically falls between Large (L) and Extra Large (XL).
Hourglass is the rarest body type, with only estimated 8% of women having this figure. Here's the thing: hourglass bodies are versatile. The stereotypical hourglass is too narrow of a depiction that often fails to capture the true beauty and diversity of this shape.
Endomorph
Let's add another fruit to our mix: the Banana, aka the rectangle or column. This shape can be defined as long and slender “boyish” figure or athletic build. While proportionally the Banana has a balanced upper and lower body and quite a slender frame, at times may have a less defined waist.