At a macro level, it fascinates me that you can sort of see the His Needs, Her Needs ENs in these statistics: the highest marriage rates are among the upper classes, where women are (relatively) thinner. Though upper-class males are relatively heavier, this hasn't stopped women from marrying them, as one of a woman's top needs is financial security.

Conversely the lowest rates of marriage are among the lower classes, and females in these lower classes are (relatively) more obese. And though poor men are thinner it's evidently not enough to attract a marriageable mate, as one of women's top needs is financial security.

Assuming equal ability to meet the other 4 ENs...I know if I had a choice to marry a rich man who was not physically attractive v. a poor man who was very handsome, I would definitely go for the rich guy. More security (I'm a girl, btw)

Conversely, I'll bet if a man had the choice of marrying either a rich woman who was not physically attractive v. a poor woman who was very good-looking, I'd guess he would go for the good-looking one.

If there were more physically attractive women and more rich men...we'd probably have a higher marriage rate.

Thoughts?

Define 'rich'.

When a woman as the need for fiscal security, what is she really saying? Able to maintain a nice house, newer cars, go on vacation every other year or is this more like very nice house, new cars, and go on vacation every year?

For many people $85k a year is a very good job, for others it's more like $130k.

And what if the dude had to work, A LOT, or travel to make that kind of money?

I always figured that a girl wanted more availability and and a modest (though not poor) living over a higher standard of living and and less availability.

I'm in a position where I have a lot of demand for my time. My earning potential is really just limited by how much time I want to throw at it (shy of being a Dr or something.)

ak

I don't consider myself rich, but rich enough to pay a LOT of taxes!

Those obesity rates are stunning!
Only 13,8% of the population is obese in my country.

But this works the other way around aswell...
I see a lot of girls that are too skinny to be healthy too or have a normal figure because they hardly eat or even use amphetamines/diet drugs.

Never judge a book by it's cover!
My best female friend was obese when I met her 5 yrs ago.
She had some coping issues and eating disorders from her troubled childhood. She was very open about it and I just knew this girl would change one day.

We shared a house for a year.
She got interested in Thai cooking.

5 years later she is facing her demons, turned to a vegetarian livestyle and lost 40kg.
She is a 26-yr old blond bombshell now, with scars on her belly as evidence of her inner change! ;-)

Actually poor men aren't thinnner.
For the first time in the history of the world, the poor are actually fat from their fast food diets!

Oh...and I will happily marry a fat rich woman.

Good question. It depends on the girl, I guess.

Mine has changed over the years, and as I've become more financially successful my standards have also risen. It's about security, and sort of about wanting a man I can admire. If he makes less than I do - or just the same - the mystery disappears, along with that sense of awe. Not fair, but those are the feelings I contend with.

As to travelling for business - that's not real ok with me. So if I had to choose, I'd probably rather have a guy who's home. But ideally he'd make more than I do AND not travel. (Picky, picky. I know, I know.)

For this study, Lower Class was less than 130% to poverty level (less than $32K per year, family of 4), Middle Class was 130%-349% above the poverty line (~$32K - $81.9K per year, family of 4), and Upper Class was 350%+ above poverty (~$82K+ per year, family of 4).

Go Jedi!

I wanna see pictures when it happens...

There's actually some debate about food stamps now, because of these statistics.

Easily solved: fruits, veggies and whole grains only with SNAP.

Good for her!

It is a fact that a single parent with 3 kids is better off making $29k a year with $50k in annual federal benefits than making $50k.
I qualify for food stamps (for the first time in my life) and feed my family one $525 a month in food stamps! Whole grain, vegetables, fruits etc. No processed foods at all.

For shame, Jedi...You're saying "no" to overweight women on one thread, and "yes" over here. Tsk tsk.

Now I DEFINITELY want a picture!

Zhamila,

I actually find many overweight women attractive.
I don't define beauty exclusively by clothing size or complexion.

I was joking about the rich woman though. Of course I would marry a rich woman!

Hmmm...Maybe someone should start a "Financial Security" Dating thread, lol.

Just make sure you are PC about it. Saying that you like a financially secure FFW would come across better than you like 'em big and loaded.

I like this thread! Fwiw, I don't think I could date a man who was overweight. And he doesn't have to be rich. As long as he had a steady consistent job. My ex made decent money but was always traveling and we relocated a million times for his career and I hated it. So I guess the odds are in my favor to marry a poor skinny guy!