Big and Beautiful: Attractiveness and Health Ratings of the Female Body by Male “Fat Admirers”

Abstract

This study examined the body weight and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) preferences of "fat admirers" (FAs), that is, individuals who are sexually attracted to heavier partners. Fifty-six heterosexual men involved in the FA community rated a series of line drawings that varied in three levels of body weight and six of WHR for physical attractiveness and health. The results showed significant main effects of body weight and WHR, as well as a significant body weight x WHR interaction for both health ratings. In general, there was a preference for heavyweight figures and high WHRs for ratings of attractiveness and normal-weight figures and mid-ranging WHRs for ratings of health. Limitations of the study and explanations for fat admiration are discussed.

Feederism: An Exaggeration of a Normative Mate Selection Preference?

“…Feeders and Feedees sometimes connect via personal ads and form relationships with each other in real life. However, involvement in Feederism is predominately limited to the internet (Giovanelli & Peluso, 2006;Ludwig, 2008;Swami & Furnham, 2009). Individuals communicate through chat rooms and message boards on group websites such as FantasyFeeder.com and DimensionsMagazine.com.…”

Compassion, Dominance/Submission, and Curled Lips: A Thematic Analysis of Dacryphilic Experience

“…The existence of multiple interests within specific non-normative sexual interests is well-documented in the literature. For example, research into fat admiration has suggested a distinction between "feeder" and "feedee" and has presented different body preferences within these interests (Swami & Furnham, 2009;Swami & Tovée, 2009;Terry & Vasey, 2011). However, while Aggrawal (2009bAggrawal ( , 2011 has suggested that paraphilic interests such as zoophilia and necrophilia can be classified into ten types that move from low-intensity to high-intensity interests, the "severity" of interests was not constructed thematically from participant accounts in the present study.…”

“…For example, sociological studies have examined the roles of 4 different types of websites in the zoophilic community (Jenkins & Thomas, 2004) and have theorized four different ways in which those with zoophilic preferences may justify their preference online (Maratea, 2011). Experimental studies have examined different BMI and waist-to-hip ratio preferences in the female fat admiration community (Swami & Furnham, 2009;Swami & Tovée, 2009). Finally, forensic medical research has examined secondary sources pertaining to medical and legal cases in order to suggest a ten-point classification system for zoophilia and necrophilia, based on "severity" of interest (Aggrawal 2009b;.…”

The use of online methodologies in studying paraphilias — A review

“…For instance, Swami et al (Swami & Furnham, 2009;Swami & Tovee, 2006;2009) have recruited fat admirers for a number of their studies on body size and attractiveness by seeking out those who frequent fat admiration online dating sites. As Swami and Furnham (2009) UK, Loving It Large). They also noted (that online) it is possible to find photographs of extremely overweight and obese women and men in specialist erotica (e.g., pornographic magazines like Voluptuous and XL Girls).…”