Relationship experts often say people with similar interests gravitate toward each other, including men with active lifestyles.
Users got into an argument on the matter when a two-year-old video recently went viral, sparking a debate about the type of women who appeal most to men interested in physical fitness.
The video, with 4.7 million views, shows a female influencer posing with her male partner, prompting viewers to leave harsh comments accusing her of being "overweight" and "ugly."
Highlights
- An influencer’s 2024 video about her and her male partner’s physique recently went viral.
- It prompted a debate over whether bodybuilding men prefer to date women who also work out, or someone who does not.
- Multiple studies have shown mixed results over the years, suggesting it depends on individual preferences.
“Ewww, he is attractive, but why is he settling for this pig?” one viewer wrote at the time.
On November 2, 2026, a social media account shared the video and asked a “silly” question about the dating preferences of men who work out.
An influencer’s 2024 video sparked debate over dating preferences of men who work out
In April 2024, Cat Weiss, a content creator with over 50,000 followers, shared a video of getting ready with her partner.
The clip put her curves and the man’s toned, bulked-up figure on display.
“This is going to make some of you unreasonably angry,” she wrote in the caption.
Proving her right, many netizens made unsavory comments at the time.
“I'm mostly just grossed out by it,” one wrote. Another commented, “Some men like more jelly on their toast.”
“I’m glad two people found each other! If anyone is mad at them, they’re the problem,” said one of the few who defended the influencer.
The video was recently shared by another social media user, saying, “Can I ask a silly question? Why do bodybuilders mostly date out-of-shape women?”
Netizens argued over the role body size plays in romantic relationships
Viewers came up with their theories, with some dismissing the question right away while a few claimed that “they both have body image issues.”
“Because they are not shallow-minded and not superficial towards women they love?” one answered. Another said, “Because the point of getting swole is to carry thick women.”
A third wrote, “Because they don’t want competition in the gym with their spouse.” A fourth joked, “Weight training never stops, even in the bedroom.”
“It’s because they don’t wanna compete with their partner. They wanna be the fit one and feel great about themselves,” one suggestion read.
“They have higher testosterone and so are attracted to more feminine features,” one more opined.
As the post continued to garner millions of views, Weiss posted a new comment under her 2024 video, saying, “Guys, this was posted two and a half years ago. If you wanna rage over it, knock yourselves out, but I’ve got this muted, and I’m not going to be reading any of your comments.”
Studies over the years have shed light on the dating preferences of men interested in physical fitness
Research on dating preferences suggests that men who regularly work out may value an active partner, but that does not necessarily mean they want to date women with similarly muscular or highly developed physiques.
A 2009 study published in Sex Roles examined 5,810 heterosexual dating profiles in the US. Among the 2,378 men who expressed body-type preferences, 85.6% included thin or thin-and-toned women among their preferred types.
However, only around 15% exclusively preferred these body types, suggesting that most were open to dating women with different physiques.
A 2018 Zoosk survey of more than 7,000 members found that 65% of online daters considered regular exercise important in a potential partner. The percentage was higher among people who exercised at least three times a week, with 83% saying they valued an active partner.
A 2025 study by dating app Hily, titled Fitness and Dating: The Confidence Gap, found that 69% of the men they surveyed said they were very interested in working out, compared with 41% of young women.
But when asked whether they wanted a partner who was fitter than themselves, only 31% of men said yes, compared with 46% of women.
"They love the soft girls," one user said
