How Much Weight Do You Need to Lose to Look More Attractive? Science Has the Answer (2024)

How Much Weight Do You Need to Lose to Look More Attractive? Science Has the Answer (1)

We all know that beauty is in the eye of the beholder—or at least the Instagram filter. But now scientists have broken down the specifics of how and why peoplelook attractive, depending on how much extra weight they carry in their faces.

The idea is fairly simple: Someone with a fuller face simply appears heavier at first blush.

Researchers at the University of Toronto in Canada collected pictures of men and women between the ages of 20 and40 who were photographed with neutral expressions and their hair tied back. They then digitally altered the subjects’ faces to show a gradual increase in body mass index (BMI).

The study, which was published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science, found that women actually have to lose less weight on average for others to notice the weight loss in theirfaces, which, according to lead researcher Nicholas Rule, is about eight to nine pounds.

“But they need to lose about twice as much for anyone to find them more attractive,” he said in a statement. That’s an average of 13.9 pounds for women and 18.1 for men of a normal height and weight.

Well, then. Sounds like that extra five pounds you’ve been fretting about is just the tip of the iceberg.

How Much Weight Do You Need to Lose to Look More Attractive? Science Has the Answer (2024)

FAQs

How Much Weight Do You Need to Lose to Look More Attractive? Science Has the Answer? ›

Rule and Re found that the average decrease required to make the faces in the sample appear more attractive was 2.38 kg/m2 for women, and 2.59 kg/m2 for men, translating to about 6.3 and 8.2 kilograms (approximately 14 and 18 pounds) for women and men of average height, respectively.

How much weight do you have to lose to be more attractive? ›

To make your face look more attractive, you'd need to lower your BMI by about 2.5 points. That means a woman and man of average height would need to lose about 14 pounds and 18 pounds, respectively, the study found.

Is 20lb weight loss noticeable? ›

According to a Canadian study on the social perception of weight loss, "women and men of average height need to lose or gain approximately 10 pounds for anyone to notice the difference in a face," he said.

Is a 30 lb weight loss noticeable? ›

I would say that it is noticeable to lose 30 lbs. And not only other people will see it and compliment you. You will notice and feel it, too. It's not only about your appearance.

At what BMI is your face most attractive? ›

You should lose approximately 1.3 BMI to look slimmer and around 2.5 BMI so your face appears more attractive. According to research, a body fat percentage in the range of 9 to 12% for males and 17 to 20% for females usually enhances facial attractiveness.

Is 15 lb weight loss noticeable? ›

You will look leaner as you have lost a lot of fat. You will also have less belly fat and reduced waist size (10). So, even if it is an unintentional 15-pound weight loss, it will be easily noticeable. Your clothes won't even fit you as they used to before losing the extra pounds.

Which body part loses fat first? ›

Nevertheless, people's face and neck are the body parts that lose weight first when diet dominates. You will begin to see the reduction in face and neck fat when you are a bouquet of losing weight.

How long will it take to lose 30 pounds on a 1200 calorie diet? ›

For example, it would take one 3 to 6 months on average to lose 30 pounds on a 1200 calorie diet. It is based on CDC; one can lose 1 to 2 pounds per week on average.

Does losing 20 pounds change your face? ›

Likewise, the amount of fat you lose will also affect whether or not your face changes. If you only need to lose 20 pounds, you probably don't have enough excess weight to cause a noticeable stretch to your skin.

How long does it take to lose 30 pounds realistically? ›

It's a fairly large weight loss goal and will require you to stick to a healthier lifestyle for a significant amount of time. Typically, you should aim to lose approximately one to two pounds each week. This means that in about four months or so, you'll be able to lose about 30 pounds.

Can I lose 30 lbs in 3 months? ›

Rapid weight loss may lead to weight regain through metabolic changes, muscle loss, hormonal changes, and possibly frustration with the restrictions associated with dieting. With that in mind, for many people, 3 months is a realistic timeframe for losing 30 pounds. That amounts to losing a little over 2 pounds a week.

Why am I losing 1 pound a day? ›

Unintentional weight loss has many different causes. It might be caused by a stressful event like a divorce, losing a job, or the death of a loved one. It can also be caused by malnutrition, a health condition or a combination of things.

How much weight do I need to lose to look more attractive? ›

"Women and men of average height need to gain or lose about 3.5 and 4 kg, or about 8 and 9 lbs, respectively, for anyone to see it in their face, but they need to lose about twice as much for anyone to find them more attractive,” professor Nicholas Rule of the University of Toronto in Canada said about the study.

What is the most attractive weight for a 5'2" female? ›

Ideal Weight Chart
MaleFemale
5' 1"101 - 123 lbs.95 - 116 lbs.
5' 2"106 - 130 lbs.99 - 121 lbs.
5' 3"112 - 136 lbs.104 - 127 lbs.
5' 4"117 - 143 lbs.108 - 132 lbs.
28 more rows

What body type do men prefer? ›

Essentially, the male ideal is an inverted pyramid with broad shoulders and small waist, while the female ideal is an hourglass with a small waist-to-hip ratio. Second, both women and men preferred slimmer female bodies than the real female participants possessed.

Will losing weight make you more attractive? ›

Losing weight can bring huge health benefits. It can lengthen your life and make you look and feel incredible. But one perk can frequently trump all others: Losing weight can make you more sexually attractive and, if you're single, give your dating life a big boost.

How much weight do you need to lose for it to be noticeable? ›

CDC further recommends that you need to lose around 5-10% of your total body weight to notice changes. For instance, if you weigh 170 pounds, you need to lose roughly 8.3-17 pounds to notice a difference.

Is losing 10 pounds noticeable? ›

Ten pounds is a considerable amount of weight to lose and will allow you to see considerable changes in the mirror. The perception of your own physique may be hard to quantify; however, a numerical analysis of what a 10 pound change means will help you see that your work has paid off.

Is 3lb weight gain noticeable? ›

Yes, less if you are fat.

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