Women are over dad bods while men prefer curves, new study suggests

Sorry, fellas — the era of the celebrated “dad bod” may be heading for the gym locker room.

A new study suggests women are swiping left on softer physiques in favor of leaner, athletic builds more akin to actors Paul Mescal and Jacob Elordi than the beer-belly bravado once hailed as peak male attractiveness.

But while men may be losing points for packing on extra padding, women aren’t being held to the same ultra-toned standard.

The research found that people attracted to women still prefer soft, curvy bodies like those of Ashley Graham and Beyoncé over razor-thin physiques.

The findings, according to SoloFun, the adult entertainment site behind the study, suggest social media’s fixation on shredded abs and ultra-thin frames may not line up with what people actually find attractive in real life.

More than 2,000 adults were shown side-by-side body-fat comparison images and asked to pick the physiques they found hottest.

Respondents overwhelmingly picked a lean, athletic physique hovering around 15% body fat — a look experts say reads as healthy and naturally fit rather than excessively muscular.

That means the so-called “dad bod,” meanwhile, may officially be on thin ice.

A male body-fat percentage of 20% ranked second, followed by 25%, while the least attractive option was the heaviest category at 35%.

For women, however, the ideal skewed noticeably softer.

People attracted to women overwhelmingly favored a softer, curvaceous look, hovering around 30% body fat — proof that shapely figures are still beating out the ultra-skinny Instagram aesthetic.

A 25% body-fat level came in second, while the highest option, 45%, landed dead last.

Researchers noted the numbers aren’t exactly apples-to-apples, since men and women naturally carry and store body fat differently.

A man at 15% body fat will typically look fit and athletic, they said, but a woman at the same level could appear extremely lean and even face hormonal problems and side effects.

Meanwhile, a woman at 30% body fat can still look healthy and voluptuous, while a man at that percentage would usually appear far heavier.

Experts say there are several theories behind why women gravitate toward more athletic male physiques, with many linking muscularity to perceived strength, health and protection.

As previously reported by The Post, one 2024 report commissioned by Dating.com found nearly 75% of singles said they were fans of the “dad bod,” meaning a look that’s “not super chiseled.”

A separate poll from Planet Fitness echoed the sentiment, finding 78% of women associated dad bods with confidence, while nearly half said a softer stomach was basically the new six-pack.

A whopping 83% of mothers even said they’d be proud to have a husband with a bit of extra cushion.

But other research complicates the love affair with the dad bod. While softer men may score points on personality traits, they don’t always win on raw physical attraction.

Instead, most respondents associated slightly softer builds with being “affectionate, nurturant, friendly” — and better long-term partner material.