Hungry, broke men prefer bigger breasts, scientists discover
A new study published in peer-reviewed journal PLOS ONE reveals that men experiencing financial insecurity or hunger find larger breasts more attractive. Researchers Viren Swami and Martin J. Tovée conducted two studies across Malaysia and the UK.
In Malaysia, 266 men from low, medium, and high-income areas rated computer-generated images of women. Results showed clear socioeconomic patterns: men from poor rural areas preferred larger breasts, while wealthier urban men preferred smaller sizes.
A separate British experiment with 124 university students found hungry men consistently rated larger breasts as more attractive than those who had recently eaten.
The researchers concluded that attraction isn't fixed but responds to immediate conditions. Men under resource pressure may value physical traits that signal access to resources or stability. Both temporary hunger and long-term economic conditions shape how attractiveness is judged, suggesting social and environmental factors heavily influence physical preferences.
The findings indicate that what men find attractive can change based on their immediate circumstances and resource security levels.