Researchers have discovered that men with slightly longer legs are more appealing to women, as these individuals are perceived to be fitter and more promising partners. However, excessively long legs do not confer any dating advantages for men, according to the study.
A team of scientists from Cambridge University conducted an experiment to assess the attractiveness of various limb proportions. They enlisted 341 American women to evaluate computer-generated male figures and rate them on a scale of one to seven. The researchers specifically measured leg length from the hip to the top of the ankle.
The results revealed that the male figures deemed most attractive exhibited legs that were moderately longer than the average length. This suggests that an ideal balance exists between greater size and “averageness,” which is associated with good health.
In contrast, individuals with significantly deviated leg lengths—either very short or very long—were associated with poor health. Extremely long legs were linked to various genetic conditions with harmful effects, while short legs were associated with conditions like diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and dementia.
The researchers, led by Dr. William Skylark, published their findings in the journal Royal Society Open Science. They observed that leg-body ratios (LBRs) slightly above the mean were indicative of high socioeconomic status, good nutrition, developmental stability, and biomechanical efficiency during movement. Consequently, the preference for LBRs at or slightly above the population mean suggests that these ratios serve as signals of a prospective mate’s fitness.