Why Men find a Leggy Lady Sexier

When it comes to snaring the perfect man, the solution could be as simple as slipping on a pair of high heels.

In a study that confirms what many of us have long suspected, scientists have shown that men find long legs attractive.

Faced with the choice of two women of the same height, but with different leg length, they will tend to plump for the one with the longer legs.

It is thought that lengthy limbs are perceived as indicating good health, as well as social standing and the ability to be a good provider, New Scientist reports.

The finding could go some way to explaining the allure of models Jemma Kidd and Eva Herzigova, both of whom have provided the face - and legs - for campaigns by Pretty Polly tights.

The researchers asked more than 200 volunteers to rate the attractiveness of a series of images of a silhouetted man or woman.

In each case, the legs had been lengthened or shortened slightly but the overall height remained the same.

Both sexes described the pictures in which the legs were slightly longer than average as being the most attractive.

Researcher Dr Boguslaw Pawlowski said: "Long legs are signalling health."

Studies have linked short legs to a variety of ailments, with stocky sorts at higher risk of heart disease and diabetes.

Long legs could also indicate a prosperous background, as poor nutrition in teenage years is thought to stunt the growth of the limbs.

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Nicole Kidman (left) famously towered over first husband Tom Cruise, while Jemma Kidd (right) provided the face - and legs - for campaigns by Pretty Polly tights

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But while legs 5 per cent longer than average proved the most popular, very long legs - around 15 per cent above the norm - fared poorly.

The researchers from Wroclaw University in Poland said extremely long legs in a woman could indicate poor childbearing prospects.

"One can hypothesise that excessively long legs, and therefore excessively small torsos, might indicate insufficient space for development of a foetus."

Previous work by the same researchers suggests women regard taller men as good for a fling but see shorter men as better companions with whom to settle down.

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