What men really want in a woman . . a 0.7 ratio

New Zealand anthropologist Barnaby Dixson studied what the sexes found attractive in a partner across cultures and over history using a method of eye tracking.

But the usual suspects of personality, breast size and weight apparently do not figure.

Instead, Dixson found the same formula for what men favoured in women came up almost every single time - a waist-to-hip ratio of 0.7. In other words, a waist measurement exactly 70 per cent of the hip circumference.

To back his theory, Dixson applied it to some of the most beautiful women in the world.

Supermodel Kate Moss, actresses Jessica Alba and Marilyn Monroe plus Victoria's Secret Angel Alessandra Ambrosio all possess the perfect 0.7 ratio.

And Dixson said other factors weren't taken into account by men when they saw a woman with that waist-to-hip ratio.

"It is likely that perfect 0.7 ratio sends a biological signal to men that the woman is most fertile and most likely to produce a healthy offspring, no matter what size that woman is," Dixson said.

"It is all about the distribution of fat which is directly linked to fertility."

Mr Dixson, who explained his finding on Australian television last night also said men were wasting their time pumping iron in the gym as women invariably preferred a leaner, less muscle-bound physique.

The anthropologist said people tended to be most attracted to those of roughly the same attractiveness.

He added: "Woman and men with those traits we consider biologically perfect will consistently attract the most high-quality partner. Humans simply do not mate randomly; it is very time consuming . . . to pick a life partner."