Shapely centrefolds? Temporal change in body measures: trend analysis
- 21 December 2002
- Vol. 325 (7378) , 1447-1448
- https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.325.7378.1447
Abstract
Body mass index (weight (kg)/(height (m)2) and waist:hip ratio in women are linked to fertility, endocrine status, risk of major diseases, and longevity.1–3 Health related optimums for body mass index (20 or slightly lower2) and waist:hip ratio (0.7 or slightly lower3) are also maximally sexually attractive to men. 1 3 According to evolutionary research, these attractiveness optimums reflect evolved optimal design and thus should not be subject to temporal change.3 This assumption is not consonant with the decline in the optimally attractive body mass index that has occurred in the past few decades, as exemplified by fashion models depicted in the media. With …Keywords
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