BellaOnline Forums Beauty and Self Body Image What is the ideal body for a woman?

I think we get bombarded with images of what women are supposed to look like on a daily basis. We see pictures of women who are voluptuous, curvaceous, hourglass, skinny, thin, svelte and catwalk thin everywhere. I'm a size 12 - 14, a bit on the short side. I just don't know what is considered ideal, where does the average woman fit? What are your thoughts, does the ideal body exist?

The ideal body for a woman is one that serves her well. It allows her to go through her day feeling good about herself. She is able to do what she needs to do and feel good doing the chores that she has chosen.

I don't like a stick thin body. I think a woman is supposed to have curves and she should be proud of them.

I think the body on Nina Dobrev is a very good!

If you are asking if women are attracted to a bulky, weightlighter-type guy...the answer afaik is that it is about 50/50.


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I think the ideal adult women body should be in between BMI 20 to 21 which are good and also appealing.

S style i think

I think health is the most important for people.For women,in my opinion,BMI is 19 to 22 is the best.

Eaorai....the 'ideal' is very individual because beauty truly is in the eyes of the beholder. No matter what your body type, someone out there will find it appealing. This is why it is so important to not worry so much about what others think. Find what YOU like and make it happen!! believe if we spent half as much time being content and happy with ourselves as we do trying to conform, we would unleash a great deal of personal power. ....sigh....but, I know it's difficult. Incidentally, over the past 30 years the average body size in America has gotten larger and a 12-14 is very average...regardless of what you see in the media.

Each of us has our own ideal. Genetics play a big part in designing our body and if we have to fight that, we aren't being true to who we were born to be.

I agree with Debbie that a stick thin body with all those bones showing is not ideal to many people and cultures and with elizabethann that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And with Meredeth that health is most important.

It's too bad that we feel so compelled to fight against our natural tendencies in order to meet a social ideal.

Are we all supposed to be beautiful in our own unique way?

Evey body shape or type is ideal in its own way.

The image of the ideal beauty of women is different for the different mens. Different mens wants different women body shape.

I don't like stick thin body too. But nowadays, some women and especially teenagers are aiming for stick thin bodies because that's what they always see in magazines. I agree with BB that every body shape or type is ideal in its own way.

everyone has his or her own ideal body standard,healthy&happy is ok.

Knowing the ideal body weight can be an important factor in your health. when you trying to lose or gain weight your goal should be a healthy weight within the ranges that studies have deemed the healthiest.

I agree we all need to be healthy. After all without our health we miss out on so much in life. But I believe that focusing on numbers, be it the ones on a scale, the size of your pants or your BMI, can lead us into some unhealthy practices. Rather than trying to reach some ideal, eat well (little to no processed food and in moderation), exercise and have something bigger in your life that you are dedicated to. I believe that this will help everyone reach their ideal body.

There is no ideal body women. No body can be the sexiest one.

every woman have an ideal body,and according to me body is not ideal,his thoughts and nature have an important role in a woman.

I like to say "Bloom where you are planted"! Be happy in the body you have. So what if you have your dad's nose or grandma's butt. Be glad to be alive.

What a great sentiment Launa. I agree 100 per cent. There is so much in life to be grateful for.

a ideal body image means no matter what you wear, you looks good, and it is healthy and womanize, not very thin or fat.

Research suggests that apple-shaped women have the highest risk of heart disease, while hourglass-shaped women have the lowest. Diabetes professionals say that women with a waist measurement of over 80cm (32 inches) have a higher risk of heart disease due to body fat buildup around the waist, which poses a higher health risk than fat buildup at the hips.

for me so thin and sexy

Thanks for sharing.

One should always feel good about herself. no matters what type of a body she has.

The ideal body of a woman is the one she feels comfortable in, no matter size or wheight, as long as it's healthy.

Here-here!!

I was just going to write that very thing.

"The ideal body for any person, is what he/she feels most comfortable in."

Health? Well, listen to your body. It's there for a reason and quite often will tell you what it needs

The ideal body is the one you feel happy and comfortable in PLUS the body that's healthy. Don't compare yourself to others - you are unique and so are they.

The ideal body is the one you feel happy and comfortable in PLUS the body that's healthy. Don't compare yourself to others - you are unique and so are they. :)

I'm agree with last post

I think the ideal body of women is the body with which she can do their daily own/personal work in a well manner.

The ideal body for me is one that feels good on me. I call it my 'people suit'. Right now my body feels really good but I want to come down another 15 pounds. My jiggly thighs are the thing that drives me crazy the most.