Men prefer Miss Average

SYDNEY - A SURVEY in New Scientist magazine has found that men actually prefer average size women, reported the Herald Sun on Friday.

According to the report, researchers asked 100 male students to rate the attractiveness of more than 200 drawings of female torsos of different sizes.

The most attractive women were then compared to the vital statistics of eight groups, including models, Playboy centrefolds and typical members of the population.

The real women came closest to the ideal body shape identified in the first part of the study.

The most attractive women's measurments were equivalent to a size 14, reported New Scientist.

Most attractive of all is Miss Average who stands at 163cm, with a 76cm waist and 102cm hips, reported news.com.au.

However, the study did not take into account bust sizes, and researchers from the University of New South Wales in Australia, said that adding this information into the mix could alter the result.

Research from the University of Regensburg in Germany, however, found that an hourglass figure wase more attractive than one of average proportions.

Curvy women were also judged more appealing than either athletic types or long-legged, big-chested "Barbies", said the report.