Key Facts
• July 7, 2025: Study findings reported by the Daily Mail.
• Research conducted by Chinese Academy of Sciences on male BMI and attractiveness.
• BMI range 23–27 rated most attractive by participants.
• Study involved 283 participants from China, Lithuania, and the UK.
• WHO classifies BMI 25–30 as “Pre-obese”; over 30 as “Obese Class I.”
• Country-specific preferences: China (BMI 23.4), Lithuania (23.0), UK (26.6).
• Study published in “Personality and Individual Differences” journal.
• Women preferred slightly overweight men over slim or muscular physiques.
• Men’s preferred female body type was slimmer than evolutionarily optimal.
• Researchers linked attractiveness to survival probability.
Summary
A study by the Chinese Academy of Sciences explored the relationship between male body fat and physical attractiveness. Findings revealed that women found men with a BMI of 23–27 most attractive, favoring slightly overweight physiques over slim or muscular ones. The study, conducted across China, Lithuania, and the UK with 283 participants, showed consistent preferences across cultures. Country-specific averages for preferred BMI were 23.4 in China, 23.0 in Lithuania, and 26.6 in the UK. Researchers noted that the most attractive BMI aligns with optimal survival probabilities. In contrast, men preferred slimmer female body types, diverging from evolutionary ideals. The study was published in the journal “Personality and Individual Differences.”
