Men often admire extremely lean physiques in other men because they represent a high-status signal of discipline and difficulty. This creates a perception gap, as women may view the same physique as less formidable or as a sign of an unhealthy obsession with looks.
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Women's preference for less lean, slightly "softer" male physiques may be an evolutionary adaptation. This physique signals "formidability"—the ability to win a fight and protect—which is valued over the aesthetic of being extremely "shredded."
Research indicates women's ideal male body fat percentage is around 13-15%, which is lean but not "shredded." This contrasts with the bodybuilding ideal of sub-10% body fat, suggesting men's aesthetic goals are misaligned with female preferences.
Highly technical, male-dominated pursuits like heavy metal guitar function as an intrasexual status competition. They are not primarily for attracting women directly. Rather, men compete to establish a hierarchy among themselves, and women are then attracted to the high-status winners.
The "Dad Bod" appeals to women because it signals a man is prioritizing paternal investment (being a good father) over mating effort (attracting new partners). A hyper-focus on physique can be a turn-off, suggesting a self-centered, mating-oriented personality.
A study found that men’s real-world sexual success was highly correlated with how intimidating other men found them, not by how attractive women rated them. This suggests female mate choice is less about direct selection and more about passively choosing the victors of intra-male competition, validating a 'male competition theory' of attraction.
