In this episode of Iron Culture, Dr. Eric Trexler and Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple discuss science related to attractiveness, coolness, and personality type. They explore scientific studies on the factors associated with perceived attractiveness and "coolness," discussing body fat percentages and societal perceptions. The conversation shifts to how personality traits appear to predict workout preferences and engagement in fitness, then they debate the importance of matching exercise to individual characteristics.
Time stamps:
00:00 Introduction to Iron Culture and Guests
5:57 The Science of (Male) Attractiveness
10:39 Evolutionary Underpinnings of Male Attractiveness
13:53 Distorted Perceptions of Attractiveness (In the Fitness World)
20:10 The Irony of Pursuing Attractiveness
22:22 Body-Fat and Optimized Health
24:18 Surprising Article Feedback
28:50 Unrealistic Body Standards and Gender Perceptions
32:49 Achieving the Outcome Versus Doing Hard Things
35:07 Attractiveness is More Than Body Shape/Size
37:48 The Science of Being Cool
47:19 Matching Exercise To Personality Types
References:
Xia F, Sauciuvenaite J, Bissland R, Hambly C, Starr-Vaanholt L, Faries MD, et al. The relationship between body fatness and physical attractiveness in males. Personality and Individual Differences. 2025 Sep 1;243:113240.
de Jager S, Coetzee N, Coetzee V. Facial Adiposity, Attractiveness, and Health: A Review. Front Psychol. 2018 Dec 21;9:2562.
Brierley ME, Brooks KR, Mond J, Stevenson RJ, Stephen ID. The Body and the Beautiful: Health, Attractiveness and Body Composition in Men’s and Women’s Bodies. PLoS One. 2016;11(6):e0156722.
Sorokowski P, Kościński K, Sorokowska A, Huanca T. Preference for Women’s Body Mass and Waist-to-Hip Ratio in Tsimane’ Men of the Bolivian Amazon: Biological and Cultural Determinants. PLoS One. 2014 Aug 22;9(8):e105468.
Tovée MJ, Cornelissen PL. Female and male perceptions of female physical attractiveness in front-view and profile. Br J Psychol. 2001 May;92(Pt 2):391–402.
Jayedi A, Khan TA, Aune D, Emadi A, Shab-Bidar S. Body fat and risk of all-cause mortality: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. Int J Obes (Lond). 2022 Sep;46(9):1573–81.
Hu J, Chen X, Yang J, Giovannucci E, Lee DH, Luo W, et al. Association between fat mass and mortality: analysis of Mendelian randomization and lifestyle modification. Metabolism. 2022 Nov;136:155307.
Ramlau-Hansen CH, Thulstrup AM, Nohr EA, Bonde JP, Sørensen TIA, Olsen J. Subfecundity in overweight and obese couples. Hum Reprod. 2007 Jun;22(6):1634–7.
Wei S, Schmidt MD, Dwyer T, Norman RJ, Venn AJ. Obesity and menstrual irregularity: associations with SHBG, testosterone, and insulin. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2009 May;17(5):1070–6.
Liu Y, Hu X, Xiong M, Li J, Jiang X, Wan Y, et al. Association of BMI with erectile dysfunction: A cross-sectional study of men from an andrology clinic. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2023;14:1135024.
https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fxge0001799
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1587472/full
