Muscle theory

Muscle theory is the theory that for men increasing muscle mass and decreasing body fat is the easiest way to get laid for free via online dating or bar hopping in their immediate location. This theory claims that muscle is more important than height, face, personality, or frame in attracting women, especially if the person is not severely physically deformed or a midget.

Studies on muscle theory

Clear sexual benefits

According to a study by UCLA, muscle-bound men report almost 3 times as many sexual partners as men without a muscular physique.

"Dad bods"

There is also allegedly greater online, self-reported appreciation for "dad bods" in America. There really is no universally accepted definition of, "Dad bod", but all definitions include surplus of abdominal fat. This made the news to due an online study, not by any academic source. The "study" was by Kelton Global, a company which owns the gym Planet Fitness. This "unbiased study" showed a small majority of women self-reporting that "dad bods" are sexy. And a larger majority preferring to marry men with Dad Bods, than men with a six pack. If these results are true, they simply only show self-reported preference, not actual preference. In other words the women were simply asked in writing, it was in no way a blind study. Additionally, according to anecdotes, it may be true women have an actual preference for less muscular men in marriage, and this would follow the theory of the dual mating strategy.

Women universally find muscle more attractive

According to Aaron Sell, Aaron W. Lukazsweski and Michael Townsley in a blind, academic, peer-reviewed study, cues of upper body strength account for most of the variance in men's bodily attractiveness. In the study, women were asked to rate photos of men, and while height and leanness played a role, perceived strength played the largest role in which pictures women picked, with women choosing the men they perceived as stronger, and not ones they perceived as weaker. In fact, the women never chose weaker men, and there was no nuance to the results. Zero of the 160 women surveyed showed a statistical, actual preference for weaker men.

A study found only males physical dominance predicted sexual partner count

A study by Kordsmeyer et al. 2018 found that men's mating success (defined as "an aggregate of participants' number of sexual partners within the last twelve months, lifetime number of one-night stands and of sexual partners without relationship interest") among university students was only related to how dominant other men perceived them. Women's attractiveness ratings were not predictive.

Since perceived strength is only moderately related to actual strength, it is likely that physical features like some men's V-shaped upper body is largely sexually selected and mimics actual strength. It is plausible that the study's advertisement primarily selected for men who were confident with their physical appearance, thus they possibly were selected to meet a minimal looks threshold, necessary for dating, that may have went unnoticed by the researchers.

While physical dominance encompasses much more than muscle mass, greater upper body muscle mass certainly plays a large role in this perception.

LFA

This theory is promoted by MGTOW youtuber LFA. It is also the dominant mode of thinking on Bodybuilding.com. Those incels who are naturally not masculine in personality, or hate masculinity in general, may avoid muscle-maxxing despite it's proven benefits and they may hyperfocus on less studied looksmaxxing, such as fashion.

Abs Theory

Studies have shown that the majority women indicate they find well developed abdominal and oblique muscles to be attractive.

See also

• Variability hypothesis
• Body attractiveness