How much of a role does weight play in men and women choosing their potential mate? If you are worried about how your weight affects your chances at attracting someone, there’s a crazy new study available to help you calculate your chances.

It’s good to see scholars are putting their education and intellect to such worthwhile and well-reasoned pursuits. Columbia University researcher and economist Pierre-Andre Chiappori recently came out with a study titled “Fatter Attraction: Anthropometric and Socioeconomic Matching on the Marriage Market.” In this study, he has created an actual mathematical formula measuring how important weight is, and what heavier men and women need to do to compensate for those extra pounds.

How does this balancing act work? Men’s “worth” is dependent on a sliding scale considering weight and earnings. According to Chiappori, women will overlook men’s extra girth if they make more money.

Chiappori measures a man’s BMI up against his salary. For every 10 percent increase in a man’s BMI, he must increase his salary by 2 percent to compete in the same dating pool.

No raise on the horizon? A man best be hitting the gym if he wants to score the type of women he’s accustomed to. Of course, hitting the gym may result in him shedding fat and gaining muscle, which weighs more than fat. His BMI will then go up and he’s shot himself in the foot. Does Chiappori take stock options into consideration? With the flagging real estate market, should men be taking a few extra laps around the track? Continue reading →