All About Dad Bods

Study reveals America’s attraction to dad bods

We’ve all heard of it, the ‘dad bod’. But what does it really mean and why has it become a pop culture phenomenon? The dad bod is described as a body shape particular to middle-aged men that is relatively slim, but not lean or toned. In recent years, the dad bod has received a lot of attention and praise, making men who may be concerned about things like hair loss and aging, feel more confident.

We surveyed more than 1,100 Americans from across the country about their opinions of the dad bod.

It may be a surprise, but the majority of Americans (60%) are fans of the dad bod! Nearly 3 in 4 women (70%) say they are a fan of the particular body type. For men the percentage is lower, with nearly half saying they like the dad bod.

Much of the talk about dad bods is positive. Among those surveyed, 53% believe ‘dad bod’ is a body positive term. Additionally, 61% think dad bods are attractive and 49% say the dad bod is sexy. Almost half (47%) of people who say they’re attracted to men prefer the dad bod over someone really muscular and 1 in 5 would even go as far as saying the dad bod is the new six-pack.

When it comes to the look of the dad bod, 73% of people say having a dad bod means a person still appears to be fit, with a little extra weight. Additionally, 3 in 4 say someone with a dad bod is still overall healthy.

As for attraction, 65% of people say a person’s body type matters to them and whether they find the person attractive overall. Men put more emphasis on it, with 74% saying body type matters. Less women (57%) felt the same.

While the majority of people are fans of the dad bod, it may not only be because of looks, but what people think of the person. 49% of people believe men with dad bods have happier relationships and marriages. When asked to describe a person with a dad bod, the top terms included family man, supportive, caring, good husband, busy, providers, and athletic.

Additionally, 58% of people say a dad bod is a sign of someone who is confident in his own skin and more than 1 in 3 say a man with a dad bod appears to be more trustworthy than someone with another body type. In fact, 90% of people say they would rather be with someone who has a dad bod and a great personality than be with a model with a dull personality.

Staying healthy during the pandemic has been hard for many, with 77% of people saying their physique has gotten worse since the start of the pandemic. Among men and women, 75% of men and 79% of women feel their physique has gotten worse.

With 3 in 4 men saying their physique has suffered, it’s no surprise 31% say they’ve developed a dad bod. At the same time 14% report getting rid of a dad bod since the start of the pandemic. When it comes to improving their fitness level, 88% of men say they’d like to do so. With summer on the way, 44% of people have changed their diet or exercise habits to look and feel better before the warmer weather hits.

Methodology

In March 2022, we surveyed 1,110 Americans about their opinions and feelings surrounding dad bods. The gender of our respondents was 48% female, 49% male, and 3% non-binary or transgender. The average age was 37 years old.

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