Do Women Really Like Muscular Men?

Updated on May 28, 2026

Research shows that upper-body strength significantly impacts men's attractiveness, with over 70% of this perception linked to physical strength, alongside height and leanness. Women's attraction to muscularity may be influenced by subconscious signals related to genetic quality and healthier offspring.

To enhance a muscular appearance, individuals might consider 4D Liposuction (Vaser Hi-Def Lipo), which uses ultrasound to remove fat and sculpt the body without general anesthesia.

While it can help achieve defined abs and a toned, athletic appearance, it still requires a commitment to a healthy lifestyle to maintain results, making it suitable for those near their goal weight with good muscle tone.

Existing research shows that strong upper-body muscles are an important factor in how attractive men are perceived ^{[1, 2, 3]} .

A study found that physical strength is crucial for men's attractiveness. When raters judged photos of men's bodies, they determined that over 70% of attractiveness comes from physical strength.

The study also noted that height and leanness are attractive features, along with physical strength, which together account for 80% of men's attractiveness ^[3].

A study by Griffith University in Queensland, Australia, showed photos of male torsos to 150 women. None of the women preferred the un-muscled bodies over the stronger, muscular ones ^[4].

The reason for women's preference for muscular men is actually this: On a subconscious level, women who choose men with superior genes are likely to have more offspring.

A man's genetic quality can often be observed through his physical condition. Healthier men tend to be larger and stronger, suggesting that women are generally more attracted to fit and strong men ^{[5, 6, 7, ,8, 9, 10, 11]}.

Additionally, muscles can improve success in survival tasks, making them good indicators of mate quality ^[12] .

And the men recognise this, and this is why, across various cultures, they generally strive to develop more muscular bodies to appear more attractive ^{[13, 14]} .

So if extreme diets and intense workout routines haven't given you the results you've been looking for, it's time to try something a little different.

With a little help in the aesthetics department, it's actually possible to achieve the abs of your dreams with 4D Liposuction (Vaser hi-def Lipo).

How does 4D Liposuction (Vaser hi-def Lipo) work?

4D Liposuction (Vaser hi-def Lipo), performed by Dr Ivan Puah, uses ultrasound energy delivered internally to the targeted fat tissues via a probe.

This probe emits sonic vibrations to melt the fat, making it easier to remove.

Cannulas of varied sizes are used to reduce fat and further sculpt and contour the body.

This procedure is performed in an accredited Day Surgery, with the patient under twilight sedation (not GA).

The anaesthetist will monitor the patient's vital signs while Dr Ivan Puah carries out the procedure.

Small incisions less than 4mm long are made, followed by infiltration of anaesthetic fluid to the targeted body region.

Then, ultrasound energy is applied to liquefy the fat, making it easier for the doctor to remove it via suction.

Am I cheating by getting 4D Liposuction (Vaser hi-def Lipo)?

The procedure enhances muscle shape by selectively removing fat from targeted areas that do not respond to diet or exercise.

It should not be termed "cheating" because effort, such as eating right and leading a healthy lifestyle, is still necessary to maintain the results.

Are the Results Permanent?

4D Lipo is designed for "customised contouring" rather than debulking; hence, the ideal candidate has good muscle tone, with little fat or loose skin.

For example, individuals very close to their goal weight are somewhat toned but fail to achieve the abdominal muscle definition they desire.

This surgery is, therefore, suitable for these individuals who consistently work out 4 to 6 times per week but cannot achieve the "washboard" appearance (which generally can only be seen in those with very little body fat - about 3%).

It creates a more desirable athletic look by removing deep and superficial fat that may obscure the details of the underlying muscles.

Reference

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[2] Gray P. B., Frederick D. A. (2012). Body image and body type preferences in St. Kitts, Caribbean: A cross-cultural comparison with US samples regarding attitudes towards muscularity, body fat, and breast size. Evolutionary Psychology, 10, 422–442. DOI://10.1177/147470491201000319

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[4] Sell, A., Lukazsweski, A. W., & Townsley, M. (2017). Cues of upper body strength account for most of the variance in men's bodily attractiveness. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 284(1869).

[5] Gallup GG, Frederick DA. 2010. The science of sex appeal: an evolutionary perspective. Rev. Gen. Psychol. 14, 240–250. DOI://10.1037/a0020451

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[8] Thornhill R, Møller AP. 1997. Developmental stability, disease and medicine. Biol. Rev. 72, 497–548. DOI://10.1017/S0006323197005082

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[10] Gallup AC, White DD, Gallup GG. 2007. Handgrip strength predicts sexual behavior, body morphology, and aggression in male college students. Evol. Hum. Behav. 28, 423–429. DOI://10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2007.07.001

[11] Lukaszewski AW, Larson CM, Gildersleeve KL, Roney JR, Haselton MG. 2014. Condition-dependent calibration of men's uncommitted mating orientation: evidence from multiple samples. Evol. Hum. Behav. 35, 319–326. DOI://10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2014.03.002

[12] Durkee, P. K., Polo, P., Muñoz-Reyes, J. A., Rodríguez-Ruiz, C., Losada-Pérez, M., Fernández-Martínez, A. B., Turiégano, E., Buss, D. M., & Pita, M. (2019). Men’s Bodily Attractiveness: Muscles as Fitness Indicators. Evolutionary Psychology, 17(2).

[13] Frederick DA, Buchanan GM, Sadeghi-Azar L, Peplau LA, Haselton MG, Berezovskaya A, Lipinski RE. 2007. Desiring the muscular ideal: men's body satisfaction in the United States, Ukraine, and Ghana. Psychol. Men Masculinity 8, 103–117. DOI://10.1037/1524-9220.8.2.103

[14] Frederick DA, Essayli JH. 2016. Male body image: the roles of sexual orientation and body mass index across five national U.S. studies. Psychol. Men Masculinity 17, 336–351. DOI://10.1037/men0000031