Face shape has been linked to a person's wellbeing. [Photo|shutterstock.com]
Face shape has been linked to a person's wellbeing and how attractive they are to associate with, a study has found.
The study also found that people perceive slim faces to be healthier, with others assuming low facial fat is associated with good blood pressure.
Out of the study, the researchers have now come up with 'healthy' faces according to the ideal body mass index (BMI), percentage body fat, blood pressure and overall well-being.
"Face shape is linked to a person's wellbeing and how attractive they are to mate with," Study author Dr Ian Stephen from Macquarie University in Sydney, said as quoted by the Daily Mail.
He adds: "The findings provide strong support for the hypothesis that the face contains valid, perceptible cues to physiological health."
The researchers now hope the findings may lead to the future development of a tool that diagnoses health conditions based on patients' faces.
The researchers analyzed photographs of 50 Malaysian Chinese, 50 Caucasian and 97 black men. All of the photographs were taken face directly to the camera with a neutral expression.
The study's participants' BMI, percentage body fat and blood pressure were measured. The apparent health of the people in the photograph was rated by other participants of the same ethnicity.
Their faces were then assessed according to their size and shape.