Move over gym bros! We have nothing but admiration for your hard work to attain those “gains” — but it’s time for the dad bod to shine! As it turns out, more women prefer this body type than physiques with washboard abs.

Is the dad bod the new thing?

Beauty is found in both men and women of all shapes and sizes. And what counts as beautiful, sexy, or alluring often changes. Though we can’t say if the dad bod will remain trendy, Advanced Dermatology commissioned a survey, and they found out that 70% of the women who were polled said they like the dad bod, 61% said this body type is attractive, and 49% said that it’s just straight up sexy!

The admiration for the dad bod may be here to stay — 93% of the surveyed Americans said that they don’t judge people with this body type. In fact, they call it “the new six-pack.” But it’s not just the women who are swooning over this type of physique. Even men like seeing and/or having a dad bod. 49% of the men who were surveyed said that they prefer the dad bod over having a lean physique.

Why do women prefer the dad bod?

The dad bod doesn’t seem as intimidating as their chiseled and jacked counterparts — 49% of those who were surveyed believe that those with this body type have happier relationships or marriages than those with a muscular figure. 44% associate the type with the term “supportive,” and 41% think that they are “caring.”

In another survey by Planet Fitness, the women they polled also prefer the dad bod. Moreover, to these women, this body type signifies confidence and happiness among those who don the said physique. Additionally, in a separate article, Planet Fitness theorizes that the dad bod is sexy to most people because, again, not only do men who carry a little more weight exude confidence and family-oriented qualities, it’s also a more realistic beauty standard among men.

The dad bod vs. six-pack abs

It’s long been a societal standard that men with  six-pack abs are “healthy.” However, according to Medical News Today, these are the most ideal body fat percentages among men of different age groups:

  • Men aged 20-29: 8%-18.6%
  • Men aged 30-39: 8%-21.3%
  • Men aged 40-49: 8%-23.4%
  • Men aged 50-59: 8%-24.6%
  • Men aged 60-69: 8%-25.2%

 

It’s worth noting that six-pack abs don’t usually appear unless a man has a body fat percentage of 15% or lower. Moreover, some actors in Hollywood or athletes — especially in combat sports (where weighing in is a prerequisite) as well as in bodybuilding — typically “cut weight” in order to temporarily achieve a lean body weight, a practice that has long been said to be dangerous. 

The dad bod, on the other hand, is typically achieved when men are around the 20% body fat percentage mark, which falls in the “healthy” category. However, if one gains a few pounds more than that, they can be considered to be overweight. If that’s the case, they can also be at risk for health problems that are typically associated with being overweight. A balanced diet and a regular exercise routine should be on everyone’s to-do list!

*Note: The weighing scale and BMI calculator are said to be inaccurate and misleading when it comes to measuring the weight of the elderly and athletes. Moreover, it cannot determine your overall health unless you get screened for your heart and liver function, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, risk for diabetes, etc. However, they can be pretty good indicators so you can at the very least, have an idea of how much you weigh.

Conclusion

Let’s celebrate the dad bod! Men with this body type are not only associated with being more caring and supportive, but they’re also providing a realistic standard for men out there! The dad bod that most people envision still falls on the “healthy” scale — good thing this body type is recognized as sexy now. All in all, “sexy” is subjective. A “caring” person, however, is admired universally! Up next: A little more appreciation for the mom bod, please!

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