America’s Attraction to Dad Bods

You’ve probably heard the term “dad bod” before. It’s often used to describe a man who may have once been fit but has since lost muscle tone and gained some weight. The physique is typically seen in middle-aged men with children and a new report from Advanced Dermatology found Americans are big fans. Dad Bods

The term “dad bod” has exploded in popularity over the past few years. The number of men who identify as having a dad bod has increased, as has the number of women who find them attractive. The term was even added to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary in 2021. Dad Bods

Body Positive Term

Advanced Dermatology surveyed more than 1,000 people nationwide and found that 70% of women and 49% of men like the dad bod physique. More than half consider it a body-positive term.

How much do Americans like the dad bod? 47% say they actually prefer someone with a dad bod over someone really muscular and 1 in 5 say a dad bod is a new six-pack!

When it comes to attraction – 65% of people say a person’s body type matters. Men put more emphasis on it, with 74% saying body type matters, while only 57% of women felt the same. Dad Bods

Personality also plays a major role in attraction. The report found that 90% would rather be with someone with a dad bod and great personality than with a supermodel with a dull personality.

Health Implications

There may be certain health implications for men with dad bods, but most people aren’t too worried about the extra weight. A majority say the person still appears to be relatively fit and 75% of Americans say men with dad bods appear healthy overall.

Dad Bods and Relationships

So how do dad bods impact relationships? Turns out, America’s attraction to them isn’t just about looks. More than 1 in 3 say men with dad bods appear more trustworthy than men with other body types. Nearly half of Americans (49%) believe men with dad bods have happier relationships and marriages.

The top terms used to describe a man with dad bod were a family man (67%), supportive (44%), and caring (41%). Only 24% of Americans say they’d consider someone with a dad bod as unathletic. Additionally, 58% of people say a dad bod is a sign of someone who is confident in his own skin.

Pandemic’s Impact on Dad Bods

Staying healthy during the pandemic has been tough for many, with 77% of Americans saying their physique has gotten worse over the past few years.

With 3 in 4 men saying their physique has suffered, it’s no surprise that 31% say they developed a dad bod during the pandemic. At the same time, 14% report getting rid of a dad bod during that time.

Now that restrictions have eased and summer is almost here, 88% of men say they’d like to improve their fitness level. Despite America’s attraction to dad bods – 44% say they’ve recently changed their diet and exercise habits to look and feel better before the warmer weather hits. You can see the full report from Advanced Dermatology here.

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.