Leaner-looking faces rated more attractive
- Published in
- Simmons and Rhodes, Sci Rep 2017
- People studied
- 181
In photos of 181 young adults, faces that looked like they carried less fat were rated more attractive, in both men and women.
- Checked against
- PubMed 28155897
- Published in
- Simmons and Rhodes, Sci Rep 2017
- Last checked
- 30 October 2026
Key takeaway
Researchers photographed the faces of 101 men and 80 women at an Australian university. Separate groups of raters then judged each face for attractiveness and for how much fat it seemed to carry. In both men and women, faces that looked leaner were rated more attractive, alongside other traits such as symmetry in men's faces. The links were moderate in size.
At a glance
- Type of study
- snapshot study of face photos rated by separate groups of raters
- People studied
- 181
- Compared with
- faces rated as carrying more fat
- Main result
- Students rated photos of leaner-looking faces more attractive. Nobody lost weight.
- Strength of evidence
- Small or uncontrolled studies
What this study does not show
This is a snapshot of young university students, not a test of what happens to how a face is rated after losing weight. Facial fat was judged by raters from the photos, not measured.
Results from studies in groups of people, mostly in diet and movement programmes. They cannot be promised to any one person. This information is educational and does not replace a consultation with a doctor.
More on dating
- Leaner-looking faces rated more attractiveSmall or uncontrolled studies · Foo, Simmons and Rhodes, Sci Rep 2017
- Fewer new relationships, in women studentsLong-term or observational studies · van Woerden et al., PLoS One 2020
- Living with a partner linked with BMI, differently for women and menLong-term or observational studies · Howe et al., Int J Epidemiol 2020
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