Over the past year, society’s 20-35-year-olds have battled over which body is more attractive. Buzzfeed and major news agencies alike have published articles supporting the “Dad Bod” while there are countless articles throughout the Internet showing us mostly nude, very defined muscular males with washboard abs from around the globe. So which one is right for you? Well, I’ll let you decide that in the end, but here are some advantages and disadvantages to both.
The Dad Bod
According to Urban Dictionary, Dad Bod is defined as, “A guy who has kids and was once in shape and still has guns that can crush beer cans but also with a belly that says I drank those beers and I can eat 6 slices of pizza in one seating.” Used in a sentence, “Check out all those chicks all over Mike’s dad bod at the pool (top definition). Others describe it as “softly round,” while others describe it as a person who possesses laziness.
It is generally found in males who have started a family and find it acceptable to let themselves go (for a lack of better words). They generally drink and eat what they want. Maybe they hit the gym here and there, but their primary focus is continuing to provide food on the table and financial and emotional support for their family. On the flip side, a man who has this body type and is single may not exactly turn heads while out running errands or at the bar. The assumption will be that that man is taken because if he weren’t, he’d be working a much better body THAN that.
So just who has the stereotypical dad bod? Actors such as Leonardo Dicaprio, Jason Segal, and X Factor UK judge Simon Cowell all were rocking it before it was cool. Those individuals not only have the audacity to flaunt what they’ve got but also are the icons for those in love with the dad bod.
The Athletic Bod
Urban Dictionary’s top definition for athletic is, “Body type characterized by a lean, sinewy, muscular physique (NOT scrawny, but not muscle-bound like a bodybuilders’ or obese). Despite the name, many non-athletes have athletically shaped bodies due simply to a healthy lifestyle.” They are in no way “athletically challenged.”
What does that mean? Well, for starters it means you have defined muscles to accompany a lean build. Some relate the words sexy, cute, amazing, hot, strong and perfect to a man that has an athletic bod. Females and gay men alike will more than likely turn their heads when a man with the “perfect physique” walks by them.
Actor Zac Efron, professional soccer player David Beckham, and NFL star Colin Kaepernick all have the stereotypical athletic body. They no doubt turn heads every time they go somewhere, not only because of their endless amounts of money but also because of their physical body appearance.
There is some dedication involved to obtain a “Dad Body,” such as drinking beer, showing up to the gym about once a week, paying incredibly close attention to sports, and making sure your family is well taken care of. Likewise though, the athletic bod requires a large amount of attention to eating right and exercising. So which one is for you? There are advantages to both. There is no doubt about that.
Image via Flickr/Health Gauge, resized
