The Appeal of The Dad Bod

Image Courtesy: bellybelly

Humans are attracted to what we find aesthetically pleasing. Harmonious music, well-composed images, and fit bodies with specific traits are what we tend to seek out in our art and the people we love. “Fat”, or the less visible your muscles are on the surface of your skin, is something most people try to avoid, as it is considered unhealthy and unattractive in modern society. Unfortunately, we tend to judge those who are “fat” as lazy, since we think they don’t exercise, don’t eat healthily, don’t take care of their bodies, and don’t look “aesthetically pleasing.” The topic of fatphobia has circulated in recent years, referring to how fat people are treated differently than those who are thinner. Some people refer to fatphobia as doctors dismissing health problems as consequences of a higher body-mass index or an immediate dealbreaker when it comes to romantic pursuits. Fat people are also often the subject of ridicule.

Despite this, the idea of the “dad bod” has been floating through the public psyche as an endearing and even attractive trait for a man to have. The term “dad bod” generally refers to a male physique that isn’t extremely muscular and is considered slightly overweight. A signature staple of the dad bod is the large, protruding “beer belly” that many middle-aged men possess. This is the reason it’s called a “dad bod”, as it is the common physique of a middle-aged man who is not as able to retain muscle mass. There are many different body types that people have, but most would assume that those attracted to men would prefer a more toned physique that reflects regular exercise and a healthy diet. However, in 2021, Dating.com surveyed 2,000 participants and found that a whopping seventy-five percent preferred a dad bod over chiseled abs.

Image Courtesy: Getty Images/Business Insider

This seemingly came as a shock to many journalists, as many large publications such as The Guardian and Business Insider felt the need to cover it. However, the survey didn’t ask its participants why their preferences leaned more toward dad bod than fit. I can’t speak definitively for them, but I can think of a few reasons this might be the case. The first of which is a bit Freudian. Those with good relationships with their parents likely seek out similar characteristics in their romantic partners, so by virtue of dads often being middle-aged men, and therefore more likely to have dad bods, the dad bod is a physical characteristic that is sought out.

Planet Fitness recently conducted a study that produced similar results to the Dating.com survey, finding that approximately seventy percent of women found the dad bod attractive. However, unlike the Dating.com survey, Planet Fitness asked their correspondents why. Many replied that it was “an indicator of confidence and happiness.”Seventy-eight percent of women’s opinions were summarized as “A dad bod is a sign of a man who’s comfortable in his own skin. They see a man who leads a happy life—and works hard to take care of his family.” This last quote strikes me as particularly intriguing, as your body type isn’t necessarily indicative of your commitment to your family, but people tend to perceive it as so presumably because of their experiences with their fathers.

Image Courtesy: Universal Pictures

Many of us are insecure about our bodies, as we are unable to live up to the standards of the celebrities who have teams of photographers and photo editors to make them look as “good” as possible. But as the trend of the dad bod has proven, what is considered attractive is completely subjective and fluid as time progresses. The body types that are natural to us are nothing to be ashamed of, and while you may not know it, might be specifically sought out by most. However, the data from the Planet Fitness study proves that what is most important is what is on the inside, not the outside.

Strike Out,

Writer: Matias Civita

Editor: Cristina Angee

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