Body Types: What Makes Them Beautiful?6 min read
Dr. Phillip Chang
Board Certified By The American Board of Plastic Surgeons.
Voted Top Plastic Surgeon in Loudoun, Virginia
Offices in Leesburg, Virginia.
Everyone wants to feel good in their own skin. Our bodies are our homes, they’re what make us – well, us! We use them to work, to dance, to live, to grow, and to love. It’s only natural that we want to take pride in our bodies. We want to feel good and look good.
So what does it mean to have a beautiful body? While everyone has their preferences, there are general trends that scientists and psychologists have noted. Some of their findings may surprise you! Read below to learn more!
Bodies & The Golden Ratio
Have you ever heard of the Golden Ratio? The Golden Ratio is a mathematical ratio that appears all over nature, science, and all over the universe. The ratio, roughly 1:1.6, appears everywhere. From the way that your fist curls, how the galaxy turns, how snails make their shells, the symmetry in your face, your bones – really, we mean everywhere. This ratio seems to be ingrained in nature, so it’s no surprise that the ratio is ingrained in our subconscious.
Humans are naturally drawn to bodies that fit the Golden Ratio.
For men, one of the most typically attractive feature is waist-to-shoulder measurement. Men tend to strive for an X shaped body, which, you guessed it, fulfills the Golden Ratio. This specific X ratio in men is called the Adonis Index.
Basically, if men’s waist is the value 1, the Golden Ratio would suggest that their shoulders be roughly 1.6 the breadth of their waist. You can see the X shape displayed in Michelangelo’s famous “David.” If you want to learn more about the Adonis Index and the Golden Ratio as it relates to men, click here.
In women, the Golden Ratio is expressed a bit differently. Rather than waist-to-shoulder ratio, it’s chest-to-waist and waist-to-hip ratio.
This idea promotes the hourglass shape as most physically desirable. You can see the Golden Ratio hourglass displayed on the ancient Grecian “Venus De Milo” sculpture.
Interestingly enough, some studies indicate that women find narrower waist more attractive while men generally prefer a wider waist.
Either way, it’s unanimous that bodies that display the most symmetry aligning with the Golden Ratio tend to be most desirable.
Body Size & Health
As stated before, our subconscious plays a big role in what we find naturally attractive. When we see another person’s body size, our mind automatically connects size to the fertility and health of that individual whether we realize it or not. For women, a full, curvy, healthy body is interpreted as very fertile. For men, a strong, well-built, muscled body is interpreted as very healthy. These factors strike humans as attractive, and are thus pleasing to the eye.
Ultimately, a healthy-looking body is subconsciously viewed as appealing. Medically underweight or obese bodies are not only unhealthy for the individual, but they are also less desirable. If you are struggling to attain a healthy body, please talk to your doctor about what you can do to help yourself. A beautiful body starts with a healthy, happy body.
Women's Body Types
For women, science suggests that female bodies with wider hips for childbearing, long legs for sexual maturity, full breasts for child-feeding, and a big buttocks for spine alignment are all signs of fertility, therefore attractive. While we humans may interpret these characteristics as naturally appealing, it doesn’t mean that these characteristics are exclusively appealing. Women come in all different shapes and sizes, and they’re all beautiful!
Women’s body types tend to fall into five different categories:
- Inverted Triangle: This body shape is usually characterized by the shoulders or chest being wider than the waist.
- The Rectangle: This body shape is characterized by the shoulders, waist, and hips all measuring about the same size.
- The O Shape: This body shape is characterized by the shoulders and hips being around the same size with a wider waist.
- The Triangle: This body shape is characterized by the hips being wider than the shoulders.
- The Hourglass: This body shape is usually characterized by the shoulders and hips being around the same size with a smaller waist.
This fun video explores various “ideal” women’s body types throughout history. While each example may not be 100% historically accurate, it provides a good idea as to how diverse the standard of beauty has changed throughout history. Which era are you?
All Kinds Of Beautiful!
Our bodies are gifts. Of course, we want to look good and feel attractive, but ultimately we have to remember that below our skin is an intricate and beautiful system keeping us alive, healthy, and active. Whatever body shape we may be, we can all be thankful for our bodies and the job that it does. That alone is beautiful and quite awesome!
In addition to that, we have control over our bodies. Eating healthy, working out, staying active, dressing well, and staying clean are all factors that contribute to our overall attractiveness, desirability, and appeal. You can work towards getting your goal body each day at a time. Your body works hard to love you, make sure you’re returning the favor by loving it too.
Own Your Body
Interested in working toward your ideal body? We invite you to simply come in for a complimentary consultation with Dr. Chang or one of the cosmetic laser and injection nurses to explore what we can do to help you. To find out more whether Aesthetica can help you, contact us online or at 703-729-5553 to arrange an appointment. Dr. Phillip Chang is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Northern Virginia near Leesburg, Virginia and an expert in a wide variety of cosmetic treatments.
Let Us Help You!
Our office can provide you will helpful information, schedule a free consultation, and discuss the many procedures we offer.
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