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Fat people are more likely to enter into long-term relationships, while thin people prefer casual dating . At least, that’s the stereotypical image of fat and thin people, according to a recent study. The study from the University of Arkansas shows that certain body characteristics act as a kind of guide for people who want to gauge the intentions of others.
The research, published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships , suggests that people think those with high body fat percentages are more interested in long-term relationships, while those with low body fat percentages are more interested in short-term relationships.
In the study, 295 students were asked to rate four male and four female bodies. The computer-generated bodies they were shown had a high or low body fat percentage, a lot or a little muscle, and small or large breasts. After viewing the images, participants indicated to what extent they thought the owner of the body was interested in a long-term or short-term relationship.
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Less fat, less interest in relationships
The researchers found that men tend to judge women with large breasts differently than women with small breasts. Men think women with large breasts are more interested in dating. Women view these women—whether they have large or small breasts—the same way. In terms of body fat percentage and dating intentions, both men and women view those with high body fat percentages as more interested in long-term relationships than those with low body fat percentages.
A similar pattern was found in perceptions of male bodies. Both men and women see muscular men as more interested in a fling than a long-term relationship. In contrast, men with a high percentage of body fat are seen as more interested in long-term relationships. The association between body fat percentage and the desire for a long-term relationship is particularly strong for women.
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“We stereotype people’s intentions based on how we expect their bodies to shape their self-perceptions,” study author Mitch Brown of the American University told PsyPost . “If you perceive yourself as highly attractive, you may feel more comfortable seeking out shorter-term relationships because of the greater likelihood of success.”
The researchers note, however, that they only examined stereotypes and do not provide confirmation that this is actually the case. There may be some truth in the idea that fat people are more interested in long-term relationships, but this has not (yet) been confirmed by research.
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