Shape

Small waists, a good curves: the famous 36-24-36 are considered the ideal measurements of a woman. Men universally prefer a waist-to-hip ratio (the ratio between the circumference of the waist and the circumference of the hips) of 0.7. Why? It has been suggested that this is because healthy women have lower waist to hip ratios than healthy women. Diseases such as polygenic disorder, hypertension and strokes change body-fat distribution, increasing waist-to-hip ratios. Women with lower waist-to-hip ratios also are more fertile, as they have larger amounts of reproductive hormones. Interestingly, the ratio fluctuates during the menstrual cycle, being at its lowest during ovulation, when a woman is most fertile. Men are unconsciously looking out for healthier and more fertile women.