i don't like 'em super-skinny like Flockhart or Flynn Boyle... they're just disgusting... But i don't want 'em fat either. I'm a butt and leg man myself. The size of her breasts don't matter much to me, as long as she has a nice butt. the way i figure it is, if i'm gonna stay in shape, then she needs to stay in shape, but there's nothing wrong with a woman having curves. Like so many other men, my concern is that she's gonna 'let herself go' after we get hitched.

I think healthy girls are attractive.

Anorexia, it's Phat!

God, when will people like you grow up. I'm a US size 0, I'm 5'10". I love my food, I've never had an eating disorder, nor will I ever. I can't help being slim. Love the way you people like to label us, 'skinny', 'bony', 'disgusting'. Whereas fat people are 'curvy'. Well done, that's fair isn't it. And that Monique cow. Thank the Lord, I don't think she's ever had the nerve to grace my country with her presence. I'm thinking about writing a book too, 'Fat Women Are Ugly Slappers', think I'll get away with it? No, I didn't either. You're all hypocrites, and the ones who are obviously insecure.

Outraged, you sound like you are the one who needs to grow up. If you are secure with yourself the way you are, you shouldn't be so hostile. Noone calls fat people curvy. A lot of average girls are called curvy. Overweight in the least = fat. If you are outraged about peoples' attitudes toward women with your body type, don't you think it a bit hypocritical to throw around terms like "fat" "cow" and "Fat Women Are Ugly Slappers"?

I think if you are naturally slim and healthy, there should be no problem. I know some women though who claim to be "naturally" slim but count every single calorie that passes their lips and exercises compulsively. There isn't anything "natural" about that. That is a disorder.

I think Dharma is genuinely interested in what other people find attractive. Some love the supermodel type, some like some junk in the trunk, some are into boobs, others concentrate on legs. To each his own. Nothing wrong in trying to understand.

I think the hands are particularly attractive. If anybody cares:)

~Dan

I do, thanks, Dan. You too ,Jill.

I don't like the 'bag of bones' look. Sorry if it's insulting, but it is not healthy, that is, IF you have to force yourself down to that weight. If it's natural then its fine.

Hmm this is a very thought provoking article dharmagrl, and it's obviously something people feel very strongly about. I've suffered from anorexia nervosa myself, and I think it's about a lot more than just appearance or weight, For me it was about control, it was a way for me to feel in control of something, when everything in my life was going crazy. I agree a lot of celebrities are just starving themselves to conform to what hollywood or the fashion industry tells them is considered "beautiful". What's scary about that is young girls (and boys!) emulate celebrities and they're just gonna get sick trying to look like them. They set a pretty shitty example.
Our ideas of beauty change decade by decade, the skinny thing started with twiggy i think, but it varies thru out world and in different cultures- I read someplace in Africa the more voluptuous a` woman the more attractive she is considered. The image of a curvy earth mother figure is evident in a lot of African and Aboriginal art. Plus from a biological point of view, curves would be considered more attractive as they indicate a fertile healthy woman who would make a good "mate".In general woman are getting thinner hips and bigger breasts because we have children later in life now. But the point is, you can only be how ur genetically predisposed to be, so there's `no point fighting it, you'll just make urself miserable. Screw the media, and just be thankful you have a fully functional body no matter what it looks like, keep it healthy, don't get obsessed with food and remember there's a whole world of people out there who don't even have enough food to keep themselves alive, it's kind of shallow to be so concerned with our appearance in light of how others are suffering.
Dyl, xxx

I think that skinny is attractive. I'm 5'5'' and I want to be 90lbs. I think that the boney frame is beautiful because the fat rolls of my 124lb frame are sick.
I know everyone has their own opinions, but Lara Flynn, Calista, Renee. All of them are beautiful to me.

I have NO idea what the conversions are - pre pregnancy I fluctuated between 54kg & 56kg, while pregnant I only weighed myself once (it wasn't something my doctor cared about) and I was 70.5 at 8months pregnant. Post pregnancy I went down to 50kg and now 6months later I think I might be at a normal 54kg again.

Size wise I have no idea what a 0, 2, 4 is - but the smallest size we have is an 8 in women's then you're into adolescent girls which I think goes up to 14 but is smaller then a women's 8.
Pre pregnancy I was a 10. During I was a 12 and post I can't fit an 8.

I'm 5 foot 3 (165cm) and I bought a bra the other day at a clearence sale which was a (14D) 36D but I'm a 10D (32?d)
(which is EXTREMELY hard to find without paying through the nose.

I don't diet - but I only usually eat dinner regularly - and the only exercise I get is runnng around after my 6month old and walking around the mall (walking to the mall & back)

I think Christina Ricci (opposite of sex, casper) is a fantastic role model for omen. I Loved Renae in Empire Records she's wasn't a waif.
and Kate Hudson -- she got fat dring her pregnancy and was proud of it -- and didn't go on an excessive crash diet exercise or liposuction to make herself perfect again.

That's great!!!

I have NO idea what the conversions are - pre pregnancy I fluctuated between 54kg & 56kg, while pregnant I only weighed myself once (it wasn't something my doctor cared about) and I was 70.5 at 8months pregnant. Post pregnancy I went down to 50kg and now 6months later I think I might be at a normal 54kg again.

Size wise I have no idea what a 0, 2, 4 is - but the smallest size we have is an 8 in women's then you're into adolescent girls which I think goes up to 14 but is smaller then a women's 8.
Pre pregnancy I was a 10. During I was a 12 and post I can't fit an 8.

I'm 5 foot 3 (165cm) and I bought a bra the other day at a clearence sale which was a (14D) 36D but I'm a 10D (32?d)
(which is EXTREMELY hard to find without paying through the nose.

I don't diet - but I only usually eat dinner regularly - and the only exercise I get is runnng around after my 6month old and walking around the mall (walking to the mall & back)

I think Christina Ricci (opposite of sex, casper) is a fantastic role model for women. I Loved Renae in Empire Records she wasn't a waif.
And Toni Collette.

and Kate Hudson -- she got fat dring her pregnancy and was proud of it -- and didn't go on an excessive crash diet exercise or liposuction to make herself perfect again.

That's great!!!

Celebrities who look like real women -average women with average bodies and no surgery, enhancements- I love photos of celebrity mums out with their kids no makeup and look like they're child has kept them up all night because of xyz.. -- it's reality.

oh gee - I just googled 50kg & 56kg (both of which is light in comparison to average - most of my thin friends are in the 60's and tallish) in pounds - 110.23 and 123.45 pounds

and yet Dharma's 160 - translates to 72kg JUST above average in Australia. Which makes me wonder what the average and below average sizes are if 160pounds is heavy/chubby and I was that when I was pregnant -- and I was ALL baby I put on no weight anywhere but belly ask anyone.

What is a size 0?? -- I thought 6 sounded small.

The "average" female weight is about 144 pounds.  Of course, a tall person at 144 will be slimmer than a short person at the same weight.   The average pant size is a 14, so a 0 is very small.

I've never had an eating disorder, nor will I ever. I can't help being slim. Love the way you people like to label us, 'skinny', 'bony', 'disgusting'.

I know that Outraged probably won't even read this, but I'll put in my two cents anyway. There is a big difference between people who are naturally thin and those that starve themselves. Those that are naturally thin look eactly that - natural. There's none of the gaunt cheeks and sunken eyes going on. When you make yourself thinner than you are supposed to be (meaning where your body is comfortable) you look unhealthy. My best friend is 5'11'' and weighs about 120 pounds. Which for her height is almost nothing. But she looks healthy. Another friend of mine is the same height and used to weigh about 150 pounds. She has dieted her arse off (literally) to get down to 120 and has never looked worse. It's one of those things. And we should all be happy with our diversity of shape. My naturally skinny friend would love my boobs whereas I'd love her arse. The grass is always greener.

I've suffered from anorexia nervosa myself, and I think it's about a lot more than just appearance or weight, For me it was about control, it was a way for me to feel in control of something, when everything in my life was going crazy.

Spot on Dylan. Me too. Mine started initially because I 'thought I was fat' but became an excellent focus for me when I didn't want to look at all the other things in my life. It's a horrible disorder which really does become your whole world. But at the same time, I think it may have saved me from doing something worse, so it may have been a lesser of two evils.

But as for what's attractive? It's whatever you find attractive. I don't like really muscly men. Some men don't like curves. Others don't like bones. As JD said, it has a lot more to do with personality. We've all had the misfortune of meeting those incredibly beautiful people who are really very ugly. So pretty, but not very nice. (There are also many beautiful people who are also lovely, and you therefore WANT to hate them, but you can't!). But you know what, the only important thing is that people who love you find you attractive for so many different reasons apart from your appearance. As Christina said 'I am beautiful in every single way' (can't believe I just quoted her!)