The Scientific Reason Why Men Are Attracted To Curvy Women

My husband and I were recently out with a small group of friends when an influencer’s before and after photos documenting her weight loss journey came across someone’s Instagram feed. While the consensus among the ladies in the group was that the woman looked healthier and more vibrant in the after photo, the men disagreed. Some claimed they saw no difference (the woman had lost about 30 lbs), and others argued that she looked better before when she had a little more adipose tissue on her hips. 

The group was split right down the middle, with the men preferring a curvier look and the women thinking this influencer’s hard work had paid dividends in her new physique. So why is it that men tend to like a woman with a little more meat on her bones, while females prefer a more toned look for themselves? It boils down to biology and our primal survival instincts. Let me explain. 

DHA for Healthier Babies (and Curvier Hips)

According to health entrepreneur and the founder of the biohacking movement Dave Asprey, the biological reason why men are attracted to a woman’s healthy curves boils down to DHA. DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is an omega-3 fatty acid that a baby's brain needs for development in utero. A woman stores DHA in her fatty tissues, meaning the more adipose tissue a woman has on her hips, breasts, and butt, the more DHA she is likely to have. These increased stores would presumably result in smarter, healthier babies.  

The instant attraction the male brain has to a woman’s curves is subconscious. It’s a safe bet that most men aren’t actively thinking about creating healthy offspring when a curvy woman enters their field of vision. Instead, scientists theorize that the thought process occurs on a primal level – a man sees a woman with ample hips and breasts, and his primal brain immediately thinks of perpetuating his bloodline with strong, smart babies.