I can no longer deny it: #dadbod is here to stay, at least for another month or so, which is forever in Internet time. (I can only bring myself to write it as #dadbod - with the hashtag - because in my mind it only exists as a social media thing.)
The Upshot has made #dadbod a bit less of a meme and more of a real thing by quantifying it with actual data. But before we get to that, I want to remind you of two things:
1. The term "dad bod" was invented by college sophomore Mackenzie Pearson in this essay.
2. As Tim Pope points out, the correct phrase should have been "father figure."
what idiot called it dadbod and not father figure
Tim Pope (@tpope) May 19, 2015
So, according to the Upshot, here's the math behind #dadbod.
- Dads on average are 10 pounds heavier than non-dads - Dads are carrying nearly an extra two inches on their waist - Their bellies stick out an extra half-inch - Dads don't mind their extra weight - Despite their extra 10 pounds, "nearly as many dads described themselves as being 'about the right weight' as those who are not dads. - When asked their ideal weight, "dads volunteered a number that was five pounds heavier than what non-dads did." Notably, fathers don't seem to be making an effort to fight their father figure. 70% said they hadnt tried to lose weight in the previous yearSource: The Dad Bod, Quantified - NYTimes.com
