Waist-to-Bust Ratio More Key to Female Attractiveness Than Waist-to-Hip, Study Suggests

Decades of focus on the hourglass figure, defined by waist-to-hip ratio, may be misplaced, according to a new study published in the journal Japanese Psychological Research. Scientists now suggest that a woman's waist-to-bust ratio plays a more significant role in perceived attractiveness. Researchers from Wayo Women's University in Japan conducted a study involving 398 Japanese men aged 20 to 59.

The participants were asked to rate computer-generated female silhouettes that varied in waist-to-bust and waist-to-hip proportions while keeping other features constant. The findings revealed that silhouettes with a lower waist-to-bust ratio—indicating larger breasts in proportion to the waist—were consistently rated as more attractive. Conversely, changes in the waist-to-hip ratio had a minimal impact on the men's preferences.

The study identified the most attractive silhouettes as having a waist-to-bust ratio between 0.6 and 0.7. Celebrities such as Sabrina Carpenter, Sydney Sweeney, and Katy Perry are noted as fitting this general body shape. The researchers proposed that a larger bust might serve as a sexual signal, potentially indicating fertility or reproductive health.

These findings challenge previous research that has emphasized the waist-to-hip ratio as the primary determinant of male attraction. The study's authors suggest that earlier studies might have overestimated the importance of hips because women with larger busts often appear to have smaller waists. The ideal silhouette identified in the study is considered rare in reality, meaning few women naturally possess these exact proportions.

'It is known that, to varying degrees, larger bust sizes are evaluated as more attractive overseas, which is also the case in Japan,' the scientists wrote. They cautioned that the specific proportions deemed most attractive might be influenced by exposure to media images. The lead author, Tomohiro Suzuki, commented, 'I hope people realize that what's considered an 'attractive' body shape varies widely across cultures. In fact, ideal beauty is largely shaped by cultural context rather than a fixed universal rule.'

The researchers also noted that the study's conclusions apply to individuals within an average weight range. Attractiveness ratings could potentially differ for body types that are heavier or thinner.

In separate research on facial features, scientists found that the most attractive women tended to have slimmer faces, fuller lips, and more defined features, characteristics seen in celebrities like Margot Robbie and Elsa Hosk. For men, attractive features included prominent chins and angular profiles, exemplified by figures such as David Gandy and Henry Cavill.