Those are not real "gains", he looks like a chicken with muscles in the second photo, maybe a chicken that can lift some weights but still a chicken. I'm a male, if it counts.
Then there is this completely separate category of lip jobs and boob jobs where some women are definitely convinced doing these will make them more sexually attractive to men, and it definitely work for some of them, but has the opposite effect on others.
Notably, men significantly preferred the photo on the right. If the issue were lighting and pose making him look smaller on the right, why don't we see this same effect in the responses from men?
The overweight but otherwise healthy individual will last longer in crisis situations. I'm about 60 lbs. overweight, which translates to around 3 months of caloric reserves (likely an unhealthy amount TBH).
Before industrialization, being overweight was seen as a mark of beauty and wealth regardless of gender.
(Not a rationalization for being unfit or unhealthy when taken to extremes.)
Gym is something men do to compete with other men and look good to other men. It has zero to do with what women like.
But when I wrote that in comments, invariably, men felt offended and angry.
That's a massive overgeneralisation. Gym is not just for looks. Based on local gym, it's not even the main purpose. There's lots of people using it for maintaining basic fitness.
I'm writing it here, because when I was growing up, many people genuinely had the idea that you start going to the gym to become a bodybuilder. In case anyone needs to hear it - no - feel free to go to just be more healthy.
Gym culture is heavily biased toward something else. And when you look at advice about training guys are getting and seeking, it is all about muscles growth. Nothing about being faster, healthier, have balanced performance ... no other goal is as discussed as muscle growth.
This is nonsense. Most men do gym because they want to look a certain way (leaner and in some cases more muscular). It's largely unrelated to what women want.
> But when I wrote that in comments, invariably, men felt offended and angry.
Rightfully so. It's a gross generalization (and oversimplification).
I suggest you look at those media. Big muscles are what men like men to have.
Men do gym for various reasons.
His wife is a fitness influencer and bodybuilder who has been leading his training.
Not sure how that impacts things overall but think it interesting and relevant.