Diet, Beauty and Aesthetics

Since the latter half of the 20th century, the Western diet's shift towards increased refined carbohydrate intake has been linked to numerous health issues, including effects on non-medical traits like facial attractiveness. A study of 104 French subjects examined how facial attractiveness correlates with both immediate and chronic refined carbohydrate consumption, as measured by glycemic load. Assessments were made by opposite-sex raters using photos taken two hours after a controlled breakfast. The study found that a high glycemic breakfast reduced attractiveness in both sexes. Chronic consumption effects varied by meal and sex; overall, refined carbs reduced attractiveness unless offset by higher energy intake, except in men during the afternoon snack, where results were opposite. Factors such as age, perceived masculinity/femininity, BMI, and lifestyle were controlled to isolate carbohydrate impact. The study also discussed physiological differences in meal responses and their adaptive implications in modern diets.[NPID: attractiveness, refined carbohydrate, glycemic load, masculinity, femininity, Western Diet, facial]