Public Prefers Fat Politicians— If They're Men

Female politicians hungry for power should be hitting the gym while their male counterparts should be thinking about supersizing, a new study suggests. Researchers found that people considered fatter men more reliable, honest, and better able to cope with the pressures of public life. The opposite was true for heavier women.

The University of Missouri study involved showing groups of volunteers pictures of fictitious male and female candidates, along with written descriptions of their views and background. One group was shown a natural picture of the candidate, while the other saw a picture morphed to appear obese. When the groups were asked to rate the candidates on criteria including reliability and ability to perform, the obese man was ranked higher and the obese woman lower in all cases, the Telegraph reports.
(More obese stories.)