Abstract Selection should favor mating preferences that increase the chooser's reproductive success. Many previous studies have shown that the women men find most attractive in well-nourished populations have low body mass indices (BMIs) and small waist sizes combined with relatively large hips, resulting in low waist-hip ratios (WHRs). A frequently proposed explanation for these preferences is that such women may have enhanced health and fertility; but extensive evidence contradicts this health-and-fertility explanation. An alternative view is that men are attracted to signs of nubility and high reproductive value, i.e., by indicators of physical and sexual maturity in young women who have not been pregnant. Here we provide evidence in support of the view that a small waist size together with a low WHR and BMI is a strong and reliable sign of nubility. Using U.S. data from large national health surveys, we show that WHR, waist/thigh, waist/stature, and BMI are all lower in the age group (15-19) in which women reach physical and sexual maturity, after which all of these anthropometric measures increase. We also show that a smaller waist, in conjunction with relatively larger hips or thighs, is strongly associated with nulligravidity and with higher blood levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a fatty acid that is probably limiting for infant brain development. Thus, a woman with the small waist and relatively large hips that men find attractive is very likely to be nubile and nulliparous, with maximal bodily stores of key reproductive resources.

中文翻译：

---

支持生育和生殖价值是人类女性身体吸引力关键的证据

摘要 选择应该有利于增加选择者繁殖成功的交配偏好。之前的许多研究表明，在营养良好的人群中，男性认为最有吸引力的女性体重指数 (BMI) 较低，腰围较小，臀部相对较大，导致腰臀比 (WHR) 较低。对这些偏好的一个经常提出的解释是，这些女性可能具有更好的健康和生育能力；但大量证据与这种健康与生育的解释相矛盾。另一种观点是，男性被未怀孕的年轻女性和高生殖价值的迹象所吸引，即被未怀孕的年轻女性的身体和性成熟指标所吸引。在这里，我们提供证据支持以下观点，即腰围小、腰臀比和体重指数低是未婚的强烈而可靠的迹象。使用来自美国大型全国健康调查的数据，我们表明，在女性达到身体和性成熟的年龄组（15-19 岁）中，WHR、腰/大腿、腰/身高和 BMI 均较低，之后所有这些人体测量指标增加。我们还表明，较小的腰部加上相对较大的臀部或大腿，与无效妊娠和较高的二十二碳六烯酸 (DHA) 血液水平密切相关，二十二碳六烯酸 (DHA) 是一种可能限制婴儿大脑发育的脂肪酸。因此，男性认为具有吸引力的小腰和相对大臀部的女性很可能未婚且未生育，拥有最大的身体储存关键生殖资源。