They don’t take care of their health, are lazy and undisciplined and can be too physically dominant in bed.

These are just some of the brutal reasons a growing number of young men are giving for not wanting to date women over a size 8.

6 Models Charli Howard, who is size 10/12, and Jada Sezer, who is size 16/18, have spoken out about the fashion industry's unrealistic beauty standards Credit: Getty - Contributor

At the same time body positive models proudly show off their figures on billboards, a growing number of the opposite sex refuse to date anyone who doesn't look like a Love Island contestant.

Their outrageous views will incense women up and down the country, not least because the average dress size in the UK is 16.

Here, three single men break the taboo and reveal why they wouldn't go near a woman over size 8.

'If they can't look after themselves how are they going to look after me or a kid?'

Take Zack Smith, a 24 year-old entrepreneur and social media influencer from London.

“I just don’t find big thighs or a big stomach appealing to me,” he says.

“I have friends who have girlfriends who are overweight and they’re lovely but I can’t see myself holding hands with a girl like that.

6 Zack says that he does not like being with bigger women because he "can’t take as much control" in the bedroom

"Being with someone bigger just isn’t good for my image. I’m not the fittest person and I don’t have a six-pack but I still eat well and maintain my health.

"It just takes discipline. It’s not hard to change your image and look and eat well and exercise if you really want to.

"If a girl’s overweight it makes me think they can’t look after themselves or their own health, and so how are they going to look after me or even a potential kid one day?”

Zack - and others like him - will need tin hats to shield them from the wrath of women who will be appalled by their shallow outlook.

While Zack's outrageous views might incense women, it seems it's not alone in fancying slim women.

A 2015 study asked 1327 men from 10 countries to rate 21 images of women with varying BMIs according to the attractiveness of their bodies.

They discovered that the most popular card depicted a card of a woman with a BMI of 19 – borderline underweight and associated with youth.



'You can't take as much control during sex'

Zack, who’s been single for over a year now believes that how you look reflects how you are as a person.

“If I was walking down the street with my face covered with acne or fuzzy hair, I know no-one’s going to approach me," he says.

"It’s the same with girls who wear those tight tops and are obviously a bit podgy.

6 Zack says that a bigger woman "isn't good for his image" Credit: Zack Smith

"Really they should be wearing a bigger top and putting a belt around it so they look more presentable and people notice them in a good way.”

Zack says has been on many dates over the last year and claims he has been catfished by women who appear slim on their social media profiles, but look very different in the flesh.

“If they can’t be real with me online, then they can’t be real with me in person,” says Zack.

He says he's slept with a bigger girl in the past but he’d never do it again.

“I don’t regret it as an experience but when you sleep with a larger girl, it’s hard to be dominant,” says Zack.

“I’m big built and big-boned but when you have sex with a big girl, you can’t take as much control and don’t know where to start.”

Zack says that the rise in social media and shows like Love Island showing off size 8 slim bodies means a lot of his friends have the same 'high standards' and are trying to find women to enhance their image.

“I need to be seen with a certain type of girl and she can’t be over a size 8,” he says. “My last girlfriend was a size 6!”



'They're so sex hungry and lazy'

Reiss Smith, 33, a plumber from Hornchurch in Essex agrees.

“My experience hasn’t been great with bigger women," he says. "I’ve slept with a few in the past and they’re so sex-hungry.

"Because they’re on the large side, they don’t get enough attention so when they do get it, they eat you up and swallow you.

"I wouldn’t sleep with a bigger woman again – size 10 would be pushing it even. I want someone with a little waist and a lot to offer.”

6 Reiss Smith says he wouldnt have a relationship with anyone larger than size 8 Credit: Reiss Smith

Reiss also thinks being bigger makes for a different, less healthier mindset.

“I find larger women more lazy and a lot of them aren’t living a healthy lifestyle and are often eating rubbish food or smoking and not looking after themselves,” he says.

“It turns me off. I had an ex-girlfriend who was a size 14-16 and I’d end up telling her and it became a problem.

"Going out to eat was tricky too because food was so important and they’re the ones who have to choose and prioritise it.

"I’ve been single for a year and I am looking for love and seeking a spiritual connection, but they have to be a size 8 too.”



The Ariana and Love Island effect

While their reasons seem incredibly shallow, relationship psychologist Mairead Molloy, believes we shouldn't necessarily be so quick to judge.

She said: “On an evolutionary basis, men and women are both designed to be ruthlessly pragmatic in their criteria for a mate.

“Men, regardless of their conscious attitude to having kids, are designed to look for someone who can reproduce and beauty is associated with grace, intelligence, popularity and in general fitness for survival and good health.

"Social media is giving people this tremendous pressure to conform and have the ‘perfect’ appearance, much like the Ariana Grande or Love Island effect, thinking that only skinny is beautiful.”

6 Relationship psychologist Mairead Molloy, Global Director of Berkeley International says social media plays a part in how men manage relationships Credit: Berkeley International

'I encourage them away from junk food'

Kurtis Hartman, 23, a business development manager from Essex says he likes his women super-skinny because he thinks it shows they’re interested in their health.

“I met my last girlfriend on social media from the States and one of my initial attractions was her athletic figure.

6 Kurtis says he was initially attracted to his girlfriend's athletic physique Credit: Kurtis Hartman

“I keep myself groomed, have meal plans delivered every day, train five times a week and don’t eat rubbish food and I want my girlfriend to have the same attitude.

"Even when I’m with someone I’ll encourage them away from the junk food.

"If they don’t care about their health and wellbeing then we wouldn’t align very well.”

Kurtis has been single for five months now and does agree that looking for slim-only women may seem superficial.

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“Maybe I am missing out by not dating bigger women because if you go just on looks, it won’t run deep, but I’m still going to keep trying.”

Mairead’s advice? “Men should be looking for a fun, sincere, honest, low maintenance and independent woman,” she says. “Someone who they’re not just attracted to because of her looks.”

It sounds sensible but whether Kurtis, Zack and Reiss follow her advice remains to be seen.