Men across the world can now stop sucking their stomachs in because apparently this season’s hot look is the Dad Bod. Described in a blog that went viral by an American student called Mackenzie Pearson, the Dad Bod is “a nice balance between a beer gut and working out.” Pearson explains that the Dad Bod says “I go to the gym occasionally, but I also drink heavily on the weekends and enjoy eating eight slices of pizza at a time.”
Famous examples of the Dad Bod, currently being suggested online, include Simon Cowell and star of Paul Blart: Mall Cop, Kevin James.
The theory is that the owners of Dad Bods are likely to be non-threatening (clearly suggested by someone who hasn’t ever disappointed Simon Cowell on the X Factor) and unlikely to undergo any massive transition over the next few years. Essentially, a man who has already let himself go can’t really do it again.
The concept of the Dad Bod has caused some controversy though, with Brian Moylan writing about it for Time magazine and calling it a “sexist atrocity”. He argues that “it continues to reinforce inequality about what is acceptable for men and women,” suggesting that men are now ‘allowed’ to sit back and eat chips whilst women are pressured to keep slim and trim.
Whilst I do see some value in Moylan’s argument, this is the first time I’ve ever been ahead of the curve on anything, so I might just enjoy that for a while longer.
Leave a Reply