There is a constant pressure for women of all ages to match the typical beauty ideals in today’s society, but really, what is the perfect body shape? This is a question that has been debated on for years and many studies have been conducted to help determine the ideal female body shape measurements and exactly what an ideal body shape is.
Back in 2012, a study was conducted where 40 males and 40 females were asked about this topic and used BMI (Body Mass Index) to find a median. The results indicated that both sexes identified an ideal female body as having a BMI below 19 and a curvy body. They described the perfect body shape for a female as tall and skinny, with some curves.
Culture plays a role in the body shape, especially relating to breasts and hips. Having a set of large breasts and large hips is big for fertility. The large breasts are good for storing milk for the baby, whereas the large hips determine that a woman can give birth more easily. There have been many studies conducted on the topic of breast and hips size. Some of the results indicated:
- Curvy female bodies play the same role as drugs do on men
- The larger the female assets, the longer the time men stare
- Women with larger hips and thighs have a reproductive advantage
- Having extra fat in these areas helps generate omega-3 fatty acids that assist with brain function during pregnancy.
Along with culture, a good body shape is determined by attraction. Many studies have determined that these aspects are the ones that label a woman as having the perfect body shape:
- Good skin, long legs, fit body
- Large breasts, curvy hips, round butt
- Large eyes and small nose
- Dilated pupils and redder lips
There are four terms used to describe the shape of a woman’s body: a pear, apple, banana, or hourglass. A pear shape body describes a smaller figure at the top that goes down into a set of wide hips and full legs curving down to the knee. An apple shape body describes a body that is “top heavy,” meaning a wide torso, broad shoulders, and thinner on the bottom. A banana body type is for those women who have shoulders and waist about the same width with wide hips that are not noticeable. Lastly, an hourglass shaped body is characterized by a pair of larger thighs, bigger hips, and a smaller waist.
Based on various studies, the ideal body shape is the hourglass type body shape. The amount of these qualities vary between culture and race, but as long as you hold an hourglass shape, then you have an ideal body shape. An hourglass shape has the following qualities:
- Shoulders smaller than the hips
- Small waist
- The hip measurement is equal to the bust measurement
- The bust measurement is equal to the waist x 1.5
- The waist measurement is equal to the height x 0.375
Many women may have a perfect hourglass shape body yet still feel the need to lose weight and change their shape. So how do you attain this? Well to start, you have to make a life change, including diet and exercise. Wearing shapewear or a waist cincher can really make you look five to ten, even fifteen pounds lighter. Eating the proper foods and getting the proper amount of nutrients is extremely important, along with exercise. Avoid crash dieting and excessive workouts. These won’t help you. Most times women go about achieving the ideal body image in the wrong way. Do not get caught up in the ideal body image seen on billboards and in magazines. Every woman’s body is perfect in its own way.
