![Two illustrations of men with a dad bod](https://defbnszqe1hwm.cloudfront.net/images/Embrace-the-dad-bod.webp) Throughout history, the ideal male physique felt narrowly defined: chiseled abs, low body fat, and relentless commitment to the gym. In recent years, however, many men stopped chasing this “perfect” image and began embracing a physique that reflects real life, and thus, the dad bod was born. Rather than striving for six-packs, men started to focus on balance, comfort, and confidence in a body that doesn’t need to be optimized at all times. At [Solitaired](https://solitaired.com/), we know that life gets busy and there are things we enjoy more than going to the gym — like spending time with friends, unwinding with a game of [Spider Solitaire](https://solitaired.com/spider-solitaire) or [Klondike](https://solitaired.com/klondike-solitaire), and making time for the hobbies that help us relax. As the dad bod trend continues to grow in popularity among both men and women, we decided to learn where Americans are embracing it most. To do this, we surveyed residents in each state and asked a variety of questions about the dad bod. When surveying men, we asked them about their current physique, if they consider themselves to have a dad bod, how they think women view the figure, and more. We then used these responses to calculate a score showing in which states men are embracing the dad bod most and least. For our survey of women, we focused on their opinions of the dad bod, asking if they like the physique, what types of lifestyle they associate with the dad bod, and more. Read on to learn more about our findings. ## Key Takeaways * More than two-fifths of men say they have a dad bod. * Men in Alabama and North Carolina are the most likely to embrace the dad bod. * Nearly 1 in 3 men who think they have a dad bod are satisfied with their current body. * 46% of men think having a dad bod is a good thing. * 54% of men think women find the dad bod attractive. * 56% of women consider the dad bod attractive. ## The States Leading the Dad Bod Movement While there are still many men who prefer to achieve a more lean and muscular physique, the dad bod has become more common than it once was. In fact, these days many [celebrities](https://pagesix.com/photos/8-hot-male-celebrities-who-are-proud-of-their-dad-bods/#1) openly embrace the dad bod and share that they are not offended by comments about their more comfortable figure. ![A heatmap of the U.S. showing where men embrace the dad bod most](https://defbnszqe1hwm.cloudfront.net/images/Where-men-embrace-dad-bod.webp) Overall, we found that more than two-fifths of men in the U.S. say they have a dad bod. Leading the charge for this movement are men in Alabama with a dad bod embrace score of 99.05 out of 100\. With 62% of men in the state sporting a fuller physique, Alabama is home to the most dad bods in the country. Second on our ranking is North Carolina with a score of 91.43 out of 100\. While some men are unhappy with the few extra pounds, nearly 2 in 5 North Carolinians say they are satisfied with their dad bod. Next, we travel across the country to Oregon which ranks third with a dad bod embrace score of 90.67 out of 100\. Here 1 in 5 men say they feel confident in their current body, and 53% consider the dad bod to be a good thing. ![A pie chart showing the percentage of men with a dad bod who feel confident and a bar chart showing men’s opinion regarding the physique](https://defbnszqe1hwm.cloudfront.net/images/Confidence-in-dad-bod.webp) Overall, we discovered that nearly 1 in 3 men who have a dad bod are satisfied with their current body. Dad bods, despite their name, are not limited to men with children. We found that a third of men without children say they have a dad bod, adopting the popular term for their physique. When asked about the reason for the dad bod acceptance, we found 1 in 5 men say it’s because they’ve been more relaxed. For 1 in 6 men their figure is simply the result of a busy life that takes priority over their physique. Whether by choice or by circumstance, we found that 59% of men with a dad bod say they feel confident in their body. Similarly, 54% of men think women find the dad bod attractive. ## The Appeal of the Dad Bod, According to Women After learning about men’s opinion on the dad bod, we wanted to gain insight into women’s perspective. Overall, we found that more women are attracted to the dad bod than men suspected, as 56% of women report they like the physique. While 51% of women consider the dad bod to be an attractive and realistic figure, 63% of respondents think men use the dad bod identity to excuse an otherwise unhealthy lifestyle. This shows that even some who view the physique as attractive still feel it is the result of unhealthy choices. ![A bar chart showing how women view the dad bod](https://defbnszqe1hwm.cloudfront.net/images/Womens-perceptions.webp) When analyzing trends by generation, we discovered that millennial women are the most likely to consider the dad bod attractive. On the other hand, baby boomers are the least likely to feel drawn toward the dad bod physique. Next, we asked women what types of behaviors and habits they associate with the dad bod. We found that 41% say it’s part of a relaxed, easygoing lifestyle, while 37% felt it was the result of a busy life balancing work, family, and more. When asked to consider women’s preferences in recent years, 73% of women said they think attraction to the dad bod is growing. ## Embrace the Dad Bod and Game On As expectations around the ideal male body evolve, so does the definition of what it means to be happy and healthy. It’s no longer just about physical benchmarks but also about mental well-being, sustainability, and feeling comfortable in your day-to-day life. The rise of the dad bod shows that many men are stepping away from rigid fitness standards and turning toward routines that actually fit their lifestyles. Rather than forcing themselves to spend hours at the gym, many men are enjoying their leisure time doing the things they actually enjoy like playing their favorite games. At [Solitaired](https://solitaired.com/), we support a balanced, healthy lifestyle, one that includes both movement and moments to unwind. That’s why we make it easy to enjoy a game of [Golf](https://solitaired.com/golf), [Yahtzee](https://solitaired.com/yahtzee), and more anytime, anywhere. Whether you’re hitting the gym, waiting for your kid’s practice to end, or are relaxing on the couch, let Solitaired keep you entertained while you maintain the perfect dad bod form. ## Methodology In this study, we set out to learn where men are embracing the dad bod most and least. To do this, we surveyed men by state and asked about their current physique, if they consider themselves to have a dad bod, how they think women view the dad bod, and more. We then awarded points to responses that represented the presence and embracing of the dad bod and calculated the average score by state. We then adjusted those scores on a scale of 0 to 100, with 100 representing the most confidence in the dad bod. In addition to our survey of men, we also surveyed women to learn their opinions of the dad bod. We asked them about their definition of the dad bod, how important a man's physique is to them, how attracted they are to the dad bod, and more.