You might assume that straight women would prefer a man with chiselled abs, huge biceps, and a tightly defined jawline. But less is sometimes more — at least when it comes to Olly Murs.
The 40-year-old pop star has been proudly documenting his physique on social media, sharing topless workout photos ahead of his nationwide tour.
His nutritionist, Greg, posted a side-by-shot comparison: one of Olly before starting his new training plan, and another after three months of healthy eating and what he described as ‘discipline’. The caption read: ‘12 weeks to shredded and pumped’.
But Olly’s new look has led to a bit of a debate online. A poll posted by X user @CostelloWilliam asked followers: ‘Do you think he looks better before or after?’ revealed a clear gender divide.
Out of more than 4,900 votes, more than 79% of women said they preferred Olly’s ‘before’ body, compared to just 35.65% of men.
‘We aren’t lying, he’s more attractive to most women in the first picture,’ one woman commented. ‘Maybe it’s because it looks like he’d protect us, pick us up and hug us, take us camping and do other fun shenanigans – and just generally be enjoyable to be around.’
Another added: ‘What he accomplished is super impressive and I’m sure he has his reasons for wanting to do it. But I’m just more into the before vibes.’
It’s all about approachability bias
Men and women typically react differently to so-called ‘before’ and ‘after’ body images, according to chartered psychologist Dr Manpreet Dhuffar-Pottiwal,
For women, she explains there’s often an ‘approachability bias’ towards ‘before’ bodies – meaning people tend to perceive less muscular physiques as more relatable and emotionally accessible.
‘The before body might symbolise warmth, humour and emotional availability. These are associated with caregiving,’ she tells Metro.
‘For example, women’s preferences for the before could be a signal of rejection or performative transformations. When it comes to social media, it can feel curated and women are especially becoming more critical of bodies that feel over-engineered.
‘The before might symbolise authenticity, while the after risks being perceived as confirming to patriarchal or commercialised standards.’
Meanwhile, for men, these kinds of physical changes can be a symbol of aspiration and success. ‘From an evolutionary perspective, they might feel if they look good they’ll attract more females.’
These weight transformations, especially on social media, are often treated as ‘moral victories’.
‘Men also face disproportionate praise for their physical changes,’ she adds. ‘It signals access to resources, time and money for training self-control.’
Sociologists have referred to this dynamic as bodily capital – the idea that a person’s body becomes a kind of currency in social hierarchies.
But this reward doesn’t come without risks. Dr Manpreet explains men who focus ‘their value into aesthetics rather than holistic health’ can ‘fuel a cycle of self-esteem where it hinges on external validations’.
This can also increase the risk of body dysmorphia. She adds: ‘Men seem to be experiencing more body disorder and fear and disordered exercise.’
However, she notes that while women’s struggles in this area are well documented, ‘men’s are often dismissed as vanity which leaves them without support systems’.
‘Either way, both genders do face harm. But the stigma around male vulnerability does exacerbate isolation.’
The dangers of ‘before’ and ‘after’ comparisons
There are wider risks to the trend of celebrating body ‘transformations’, especially when they’re documented as simple before and after snapshots. Dr Manpreet explains these images reinforce gender scripts.
She explains: ‘These scripts dictate whose bodies we celebrate and whose we scrutinise. Both genders pay a mental health price for this.’
It also can fuel body dissatisfaction in both genders. ‘Especially when you pick up a magazine or read an article, and then all you see are before and after pictures. It feeds into self-worth and how we feel about ourselves and our physicality.’
Instead of applauding a drastic change, Dr Manpreet says: ‘We need to move the conversation from transformation to sustainability.
She explains that we should be asking more critical questions like: Is this change enhancing someone’s life, or is it perpetuating a cycle of shame?
Dr Manpreet adds that these transformations are ‘not an overnight fix’. She adds: ‘If we look at Olly’s journey, it’s still taken 12 weeks and I wonder how much obsessiveness and compulsion there was within that.
‘When we think about broader society trying to achieve something like that, they might not have the same resources. All bodies are different and his example isn’t a diverse one.’
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