Study: Physical and socioeconomic attractiveness

By Dr. Ananya Mandal, MDOct 10 2011

A new study reveals what many may have suspected to be true. Overweight men might be attractive to good-looking women as long as they are financially stable.

A Columbia University researcher created a mathematical formula to calculate the exact trade-off between income and belt-size that both men and women make in choosing their partner. According to economist Pierre-Andre Chiappori, single people looking to get hitched rate each other’s eligibility by assessing two traits - physical and socioeconomic attractiveness. Other factors, like a sense of humour or a kind soul, play a smaller role in how men and women assess each other on the dating market, according to Mr Chiappori and his co-authors.

Both men and women prefer slim, wealthy spouses to poor, fat mates, according to data collected from 667 white American couples by the Panel Study of Income Dynamics. But fatter men and women do not have to settle for less desirable partners.

According to Mr. Chiappori’s formula, men compensate for fat with cash, while women make up for an extra layer of fat with an extra year of education. For every 10 per cent increase in their body mass index, or BMI, single men must increase their annual salary by two per cent to compete in the same dating pool, according to Mr. Chiappori’s working paper, “Fatter Attraction.” BMI is calculated by dividing a person’s weight by his height.

“Our findings tell us that physical appearance is not such a big deal, and it's easy to compensate for,” Mr. Chiappori said. However he added, “It's easier to change your BMI than it is to change your salary or education level.”

Of course, the whole study was based on data collected from 667 white American couples by the Panel Study of Income Dynamics which leaves out quite a bit of the population.