Watching curvaceous women feels like drugs to men: study (2024)

Watching curvaceous women feels like drugs to men: study (1)

(PhysOrg.com) -- It has long been known that men find an "hourglass" figure the most attractive shape for the female body, and now scientists have found out why.

Research across a variety of cultures has demonstrated that men typically find the curvaceous female form sexually attractive. Other studies have shown that wide hips in women are associated with health and reproductive potential, so the attraction makes evolutionary sense.

Scientists from Georgia Gwinnett College in Lawrenceville, Georgia, studied the responses of 14 men with an average age of 25 to nude photographs of women before and after undergoing cosmetic surgery that redistributed fat from their waists to the buttocks to give them more of an hourglass figure. The operations did not reduce the weight of the women, but gave them an “optimal” Waist to Hip Ratio (WHR) of about 0.7.

The fMRI brain scans of the male subjects showed the post-surgery pictures activated the same regions of the brain that are activated by rewards, alcohol and drugs. Changes to women’s body mass index (BMI) did not affect the reward centers, but instead activated brain areas associated with the visual recognition of shape and size. This suggests judgments of female attractiveness based on body fat are based on society expectations rather than being hard-wired in the brain.

Steven Platek, an evolutionary cognitive neuroscientist, said the research may help explain why some men are addicted to p*rnography, and may also shed some light on other disorders “such as erectile dysfunction in the absence of p*rnography,” and add to our study of sexual infidelity. It also helps explain phenomena such as sexual harassment and whistling at curvaceous girls in the street. Platek said the BMI results suggest the female form projected by the media, of skinny waif-like models, is not the most attractive to men, and curves are worth their reproductive weight in gold.

The research paper, by Platek and Devendra Singh, presents the first description of the effect of WHR on men’s brains. It was published online in PLoS One on February 5.

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Watching curvaceous women feels like drugs to men: study (2024)

FAQs

Watching curvaceous women feels like drugs to men: study? ›

Watching a curvaceous woman can feel like a reward in the brain of men, much as drinking alcohol or taking drugs might, research now reveals. These new findings might help explain the preoccupation men can have toward p*rnography, scientists added.

Why are men attracted to curvy women? ›

Being a curvy woman, maybe with a few extra pounds (without it becoming a medical problem) is synonymous with joy of life, health and seduction in the eyes of men. A curvy woman reminds one of his mother: confident, generous, full of love to give.

Do curves turn men on? ›

In a landmark research conducted by the late Devendra Singh, she found that men rate women as most attractive when they have a waist size that's 60 to 70 percent of their hip size. And guess who is the archetype of the ideal female body type that's most attractive to men? Playboy Playmates!

Why do guys like wide hips? ›

Research across a variety of cultures has demonstrated that men typically find the curvaceous female form sexually attractive. Other studies have shown that wide hips in women are associated with health and reproductive potential, so the attraction makes evolutionary sense.

What does it mean when a girl has curves? ›

Using the term "curvy" twenty years ago, conjured up images of hourglass bombshells with tiny waists and generous busts and hips. It was all about the extreme hip to waist ratio, regardless of size. Today the term "curvy" is used to describe fuller, rounder figures of all proportions.

Which female body part attracts men most? ›

Faces According to this study, almost 46% of men think that faces matter the most—that's almost half! So, when you're out on the town, you can rest assured that guys are most likely checking out your face before anything else.

What female shape do men prefer? ›

Women's self-rated attractiveness is not accurately perceived by men, but men rate women with lower waist-to-hip ratios and body mass indexes as the most physically attractive . Overall, men tend to prefer women with shapely and underweight figures, associating physical attractiveness with specific personality traits.

Which body part of a male attracts a female? ›

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.

Why are guys attracted to legs? ›

In brief, a woman's legs can at once please and tease. And while the partial display, or exposure, of a woman's breasts or butt “function” more obviously in this seductive manner, it's undeniable that for many men a pair of shapely legs alone have the power to effect this enthralled response.

Why are curves arousing? ›

A 2010 Georgia Gwinnett College study found that when men look at curvy woman, the part of their brain that deals with positive reward is triggered. This is the same part of the brain that responds to drugs and alcohol. Your curves are incredibly arousing to men and according to researchers Devendra Singh and Dr.

Why do guys prefer short girls? ›

Things You Should Know

Guys often like short girls because their height difference makes them feel needed and like they can protect them. Some guys are drawn to short girls because they make them feel taller and more manly, boosting their ego. Shorter guys often like shorter girls because they are more similar in size.

Why do men like small waists? ›

In fact, science shows that men are highly attracted to women with good curves. Scottish researchers found that the slimmer a woman's waist, the more satisfied her partner and the less likely he is to suffer from erectile dysfunction. Is that the only reason? Wide hips are a sexually dimorphic trait.

What size do men find attractive? ›

Men appear to prefer women with a 'healthy' BMI

Celebrity magazines and pop culture may make you think that men prefer thinner women with a lower body mass index (BMI). However, a 2020 study in the British Journal of Psychology found that men prefer women with a BMI that falls between 23.01 and 23.46.

What size is a curvy woman? ›

Curvy refers to a waist-hip differential of . 75. If a woman has a waist size of 27 inches or less and a hip size of 36 inches, she is considered curvy. A hip size of 46 inches and a waist size of 34.5 inches or less is also considered curvy.

What age do girls usually get curves? ›

Puberty usually starts when you're between 9 and 13 years old. But it can start earlier or later. Thanks to hormones like estrogen, you'll notice changes like your breasts starting to grow and new curves forming on your body. You might notice that you start to get taller, and eventually you'll get your period.

How can you tell if a girl is curvy? ›

The technical definition of curvy refers to a waist-hip differential of . 75 . For example, a woman with a 36″ hip is curvy if her waist is 27″ or less. This is a nine inch difference but does not hold true for all dimensions because curvy is relative.

Do men prefer curvy or thin girls? ›

Individual preferences vary, and there is no universal standard for attractiveness. Some men prefer curvy women, while others may prefer slimmer figures.

Are men attracted to chubby girls? ›

One in ten men (10%) prefer chubby women but 40% are more attracted to slimmer women. Men are slightly less likely to say they don't have a preference when it comes to appearance, at 22%.

Which male body type do females find most attractive? ›

Women tend to prefer men with fit, athletic bodies.

They prefer men who are in much better shape than average but not as lean and strong as most men wish to be. Certainly not as muscular as most bodybuilders. Think of the bodies of soccer players, rugby players, and mixed martial artists.

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