Brace yourself: Dad bods are not only here to stay, but they’re exceedingly popular. In a recent Dating.com poll, nearly 75% of singles shared that they are fans of the “dad bod”!
In case you’re wondering just what a dad bod is, Men’s Health says the term “refers to an average guy who doesn’t have a lean, shredded physique. He might instead have a paunch or visible beer belly, without being hugely overweight—just like the stereotypical suburban father of a nuclear family.”
According to the experts at Dating.com, dad bods are ‘in’ and women who are serious about finding a significant other will choose soft, cuddly guys over chiseled hardbodies almost every time. And they don’t love ripped, shirtless photos, either, guys.
“Very fit and in-shape bodies are seen as ideal when it comes to attracting a partner; however, the users of Dating.com just proved that isn’t always the case when it comes to real-life romances,” says Maria Sullivan, Dating Expert and Vice President of Dating.com.
“Movies and TV shows tend to promote Barbie and Ken body types, giving people the idea that they need to look similar in order to find their match. We’re happy to be able to confirm that is not how the real world actually operates. No matter your body type, your soul mate is out there.”
But why are dad bods so appealing to single ladies? We did some investigating, and here’s what we came up with.
Men with Dad Bods…
- Give their partners permission to have a little extra padding themselves. It’s only fair, after all!
- Are not going to be spending excessive time in the gym, dieting, looking in the mirror, and that whole rigmarole.
- May actually be parents, and we have the impression that dads are more trustworthy.
- Seem more humble and self-deprecating than guys who like to show off their abs and washboards.
- Appear to be more obtainable, and open to a relationship with a regular girl.
Now if men only felt the same way about women with “mom bods,” which really aren’t even a thing. Why is that?
Most men think they need to be chiseled and in prime shape to catch a lady’s eye, but the popularity of dad bods is proof that that’s not always the case…
