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Big and Beautiful: Attractiveness and Health Ratings of the Female Body by Male “Fat Admirers”

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Abstract

This study examined the body weight and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) preferences of “fat admirers” (FAs), that is, individuals who are sexually attracted to heavier partners. Fifty-six heterosexual men involved in the FA community rated a series of line drawings that varied in three levels of body weight and six of WHR for physical attractiveness and health. The results showed significant main effects of body weight and WHR, as well as a significant body weight × WHR interaction for both health ratings. In general, there was a preference for heavyweight figures and high WHRs for ratings of attractiveness and normal-weight figures and mid-ranging WHRs for ratings of health. Limitations of the study and explanations for fat admiration are discussed.

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Notes

  1. Bray (1998) defined five BMI categories: emaciated (below 15 kg/m²), under-weight (15–18.5 kg/m²), normal (18.5–24.9 kg/m²), overweight (25.0–29.9 kg/m²) and obese (over 30 kg/m²). It should be noted that some fat acceptance authors reject the term “obese,” as it is considered to stigmatize fat (e.g., Schroeder, 1992; Wann, 1999). In the present study, we have maintained the term “obese” to specifically represent individuals with a BMI over 30 kg/m2.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful for the critical and insightful comments of the Editor and three anonymous reviewers on an earlier version of this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Public Health, University of Liverpool, Whelan Building, Quadrangle, Brownlow Hill, Liverpool, L69 3GB, UK

    Viren Swami

  2. Department of Psychology, University College London, London, UK

    Adrian Furnham

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  1. Viren Swami
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Correspondence to Viren Swami.

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Swami, V., Furnham, A. Big and Beautiful: Attractiveness and Health Ratings of the Female Body by Male “Fat Admirers”. Arch Sex Behav 38, 201–208 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-007-9200-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-007-9200-5

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