Why is it that women find broad shoulders on men attractive?
Broad shoulders imply strength, valor, and virility.
Also:
It is human nature to perceive attractiveness based on traits that we would desire in a mate.
Turns out that there is actually a science behind the perfect male body measurements.
Discover what you need to focus on to develop your ideal physique.
The Divine Proportion
Phi (Φ = 1.618…) is the number referred to as the divine proportion (aka Golden Ratio, Golden Mean).
Like pi (pi=3.14…), phi is an irrational number (i.e. goes on forever).
Two quantities are said to be in divine proportion if their sum divided by the larger quantity is equal to the larger quantity divided by the smaller quantity, i.e.
People have known about phi a long time. In fact, architects and sculptors have been incorporating it into their work since the BC era.
Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man is a drawing based on the perfect male body proportions .
It is also no coincidence that phi occurs throughout nature.
There is a certain significance to this number and it should be of no surprise that the divine proportion also plays a part to determine what body proportions we find attractive.
Phi In The Human Body
If you take the length of your arm (from forearm to tip of the hand) and divide it by the length of your forearm, you will get a number very close to 1.618. Phi occurs in other body parts as well (feet, face, torso).
It is common practice for plastic surgeons to try and bring the proportions of the face closer to phi.
The golden ratio is basically an exemplification of symmetry.
As humans we are programmed to seek, adore, and create symmetry.
Through diet and exercise it is possible to alter your body’s proportions and bring them closer to this ideal.
Sculptors in ancient Greece were renown for their work in the representation of the perfect physique.
Eugene Sandow, a strong man from the 1800s, actually set out to measure the body proportions of these various statues.
He began to find commonalities amongst them and created a plan to get his body to resemble those of the statues.
Some parts of our body, like wrists and knees, we can not alter. Your particular ideal body measurements will be determined in relation to these body parts.
Arms
Your ideal upper arm measurement will be determined by the circumference of your wrist. Measure the smallest part of your non-dominant wrist and the largest part of your upper arm. Your upper arm should be 2.5x the size of the wrist. Make sure that you take the arm measurement flexed.
If you are lagging in this department I have put together an arm workout that will serve you well.
Calves
Your flexed calves should be the same size as your flexed upper arm. Flex your calf by pointing your foot upwards, and measure around the largest part.
Shoulders and Waist
The closer the ratio of your shoulders to your waist is to phi (1.618) the better, i.e. your shoulders should have a circumference 1.618x the waist.
When measuring your waist, place the tape just above your belly button and wrap around like you would a belt. Maintain your natural stomach (don’t suck in). To measure your shoulders, stand up straight and maintain your natural stance. Have someone wrap the tape around your shoulders and chest at the widest point.
A wide waist is usually associated with an excess of body fat but wide shoulders can be built with the right workout regimen.
Chest
Your ideal chest measurement is 6.5x the size of your non dominant wrist.
To measure your chest accurately start off with a normal stance. Then have someone place the measuring tape just above your nipple, and wrap around all the way through your armpits and back to the starting position.
If it is bigger pecs that you seek, look no further than this chest routine for mass.
Thighs
Your ideal thigh measurement is determined by the size of your knee. Your thigh should be 1.75x the size of your knee.
To measure your knee, just wrap around your kneecap. Measure your thigh around its largest area.
If you want to add some inches to your quads take a look at this effective leg workout.
Body Fat
A major point to take into account is how lean you want to be while maintaining these measurements. Personally, I strive to maintain single digit body fat but anything below 12% should look great. If you are above, consider getting lean before trying to reach these measurements.
How To Get The Perfect Male Body
Start off by taking note of all your current measurements and calculating your ideal measurements. Once you have your goals on paper you can better understand what you should focus on. I recently reviewed a program called the Adonis Golden Ratio. This program is being marketed as “The Perfect Body Formula” and is designed with the specific goal of getting you closer to the perfect male body measurements.
What Experts Say 