Final answer:
The most attractive waist-to-hip ratios are often around 0.7 for women and 0.9 for men, indicating different ideals in body shapes. These ratios relate not only to attractiveness but also to health risks, with higher ratios indicating greater risk for chronic diseases such as heart disease. Attractiveness also includes traits like symmetry and social factors such as leadership or warmth.
Step-by-step explanation:
The waist-to-hip ratio is a measure of body fat distribution and attractiveness, with implications for both health and physical appeal. For women, an attractive waist-to-hip ratio is often lower, around 0.7, which is associated with a curvaceous figure, while for men, a lean and muscular appearance with a ratio around 0.9 is generally preferred. However, these ideals can be culturally influenced and subjective. It is essential to note that waist-to-hip ratios also have significant health implications. A waist-to-hip ratio above 0.85 for women and above 0.90 for men can indicate central obesity, which is a risk factor for various health issues including heart disease.
Understanding that physical attractiveness involves more than just body ratios, research has found that universally attractive traits in women include large eyes, high cheekbones, and a slender build. For men, being tall, having broad shoulders, and a narrow waist are seen as attractive. That said, social traits such as warmth and affection in females, and achievement and leadership qualities in males, also play significant roles in attractiveness. Moreover, the matching hypothesis suggests that people tend to select partners they view as equals in attractiveness and social desirability.