Summary: Research shows women almost universally prefer more muscular, leaner, stronger-looking men to less muscular, fatter, and weaker ones—to a point. In general, the “ideal” male physique to most women means having moderate (not massive) amounts of muscle in the upper and lower body and a low body fat percentage.
Researchers suggest, "women prefer muscles that are hard to build to be larger than muscles that are easier to build." Interestingly, men's ratings of size preferences were larger than women's. In other words, men thought bigger muscles were better, while women didn't have quite the same preferences.
The team found that as men age; their preference for butts and eyes decrease, their preference for breasts and legs remains static, and their preference for a pretty face increases. Women stated that their favorite part of the male physique was their chest at 24%. This was closely followed by hair 22% and arms at 19%.
New research out of UCLA confirms: Women are attracted to muscular guys. A series of six studies found that muscular guys are catnip to women looking for fun, and they have twice as many partners as average Joes and weaklings.
Summary. Women tend to prefer men with fit, athletic bodies. These ideal male bodies are significantly leaner and stronger than average, but not as lean and strong as most men wish to be, and certainly not as muscular as most bodybuilders. Think of the bodies of soccer players, rugby players, and mixed martial artists.
Chiseled Chest
Women prefer a man to be toned, but not brawny and bulked out to the max. You want a solid chest; not man boobs or muscle boobs that rival our own, just chiseled pecs.
Their study, published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, suggests muscles in men are akin to elaborate tail feathers in male peacocks: They attract females looking for a virile mate.
A wide back is essential for a V-shaped torso, and women's attraction to it is ancestral. "When it was important that our mates protect us from woolly mammoths on the plains, we looked for a gene pool that could provide us with protection," says Pega Ren, Ed. D., a sexologist in British Columbia.
Male-specific factors. Women, on average, tend to be more attracted to men who have a relatively narrow waist, a V-shaped torso, and broad shoulders. Women also tend to be more attracted to men who are taller than they are, and display a high degree of facial symmetry, as well as relatively masculine facial dimorphism.
They found that women were most attracted to muscles that are harder to develop, primarily the abs and biceps. Interestingly, the muscles women found most attractive were, in this order: glutes, biceps, abs, pecs, shoulders, obliques, triceps, and quads.
The theory was that women like athletes because women want to be involved with healthy men. Athletes also show motivation, strength, determination, and teamwork. Also, because of the “halo effect,” men who prove themselves in sports are assumed to be more competent and have better qualities in other areas as well.
Apologies to all men who do not look like they've been cut from marble – it turns out that women are most attracted to men who look strong, with muscular arms, and toned torsos, preferring these bodies to those that look slimmer and weaker. Shocking, huh?
Women found men with a softer jaw-line, clean shaven and fuller lips as more attractive, while larger eyes and higher cheekbones were seen as more attractive on females.
Symmetry: people whose faces are more symmetrical are generally considered more attractive. Averageness: faces that resemble others in the population tend to appear more attractive. Apparent health: people who look healthy, because of their skin and overall appearance are considered to have more attractive faces.
The research, published this week in Royal Society journal Proceedings B, had 160 women rate faceless images of male bodies. Unanimously, the women chose those that appeared physically stronger, with bigger pecs and larger arms.
They found that overall, men and women think bigger muscles are more attractive than smaller ones.
Broadness is better
Women tend to like men with broad shoulders, as this emphasises masculinity and strength, making them feel feminine by contrast.
Women are attracted to six packs, the same way we are attracted to breasts or butt. Because only about 15% of American men have a 6 pack. It puts you in that top 20%.
Keep your hair, nails, skin, and body well-groomed.
Choose a haircut that fits your look and style, and keep your hair clean and well-kept. Trim your nails regularly, and keep up a regular manscaping routine that suits your style. Shave, trim, or manage your facial hair so it shows that you care about your look.
The stereotypically attractive female body shape is an hourglass figure, which includes wide hips, a narrow waist, and broad shoulders.
One study from the California-San Diego found that men who clock at least 60 minutes in the gym per week reported that not only were their orgasms more intense and that they could last for longer, but they actually slept with more people thanks to their new found confidence.