The shape of a woman's body depends on her bone structure as well as the amount and arrangement of muscle and fat on her body. There are some constants across history and cultures in terms of describing an ideal female form, but there are certainly differences of opinion as to what determines attractiveness and a healthy shape.
History
The ideal female form has differed throughout history and across cultures, but a small waist has been a consistent theme. According to Devendra Singh, a psychologist at the University of Texas, "The finding that the writers describe a small waist as beautiful suggests instead that this body part--a known marker of health and fertility--is a core feature of feminine beauty that transcends ethnic differences and cultures." In the past, women used boned corsets and other garments to create this effect. Currently, some women use surgical procedures such as liposuction to minimize waist size.
Importance
Having a narrow waist might be about more than attractiveness. According to the Mayo Clinic, belly fat can put women at greater risk for a number of health problems, including diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. The waist-hip ratio, or WHR, is a person's waist measurement divided by the hip measurement. According to a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, WHR is a better predictor of mortality in those past middle age than waist circumference or body mass index.
Considerations
Charts showing ideal body weight ranges for women abound, and some take into account the additional consideration of the size of the woman's frame. According to Singh, men in European cultures typically rate as more attractive women with a 0.7 WHR, or a waste measurement that is 70 percent of the hip measurement. In other cultures around the world, the preferred WHR ranges from 0.6 all the way up to 0.9. Height makes a difference in this ratio, though. Consider a 5-foot-tall woman and a 6-foot-tall woman with the same bust, waist and hip measurements. The taller woman will appear leaner and less curvy.
According to a PBS show called "Secret of the Sexes," women are more attracted to taller men. So, taller women theoretically would have fewer men to whom they were attracted, and shorter women could choose from a larger pool of men.
Misconceptions
Women wishing to conform to a notion of perfection in terms of their weight need to be sure that they are taking their frame size into account, as well as considering how much of their mass is in the form of lean muscle versus body fat. Focusing too heavily of the number on the scale alone might not result in a healthy or even an attractive appearance.
Benefits
Being overweight or obese can increase your danger of several health problems, such as diabetes and heart disease. Keeping your weight within the ideal range can help prevent chronic conditions associated with obesity.
Warning
In attempting to reach your goal weight, follow the advice of your physician. Attempting to lose too much weight too rapidly can have negative and even dangerous health consequences. In addition, drastic weight-loss measures actually might have consequences that are just the opposite of what you are trying to accomplish. For example, cutting calories too much can cause the body to go into "starvation mode," and you will not lose any weight.
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