Link between facial symmetry and health

[Asymmetrical]

It's bad enough getting your passport photo back and realising how asymmetrical your face is, but repeatedly reading the fact that symmetrical faces are linked to strength and health confuses me.

My nose takes a swerve to the right and so not only is my nose not straight down the middle of my face but my 2 nostrils are different sizes. When I look in the mirror I don't see it but when I get photos back, because I don't recognise myself, I feel like I can objectively see that I'm unattractive.

I know there's more to life etc.. but the thing that confuses me is that I've never had a day of ill-health in 50 years. I was never off school never off work. Everybody else gets a cold and it misses me. I got pregnant too easily really, each time. My children have much more symmetrical faces and one has eczema and asthma and another issue as well. I was healthy when I had them though and my mother had me just after another pregnancy so I sometimes wonder if her body was out of nutrients when she was pregnant with me.

Just wondering if this 'fact' is one of those facts where there is just a slight tenuous link between symmetry and good health. And a slight link has taken on legs.

I doubt there's any link unless you can provide a link to a publication from a trusted source?

There were a lot of studies and for a long time this link was a 'given' but now it looks like there are studies questioning the link\

I must say, first time I've ever felt better after a google!

have you ever noticed that all the supposed external 'scientifically proven indicators of good health' in the news are in line with sexist patriarchal norms of what women should look like?

Small waist compared to bust and hips
Symmetrical facial features
Lowish body fat
'Perfect' BMI.

And yet supermodels are as mortal as the rest of us.

Bear in mind that these are only the kinds of studies that the sexist press decide to pick up on - not the totality of scientific research.

It might be due to posture or other environmental factors affecting bone development not merely ill health. Have you read or watch anything about mouth posture, orthatropics and mewing op? It is quite interesting. Here:

That is such a good point @rufflecrow

Oh 'mewing' yes I have heard of this. I watched a clip on you tube earlier. I don't think it can help me but it's interesting and I can see how having a constantly blocked nose could affect your lower jaw over time

Aysymmetrical, I just thought it may explain that face symmetry is much more complex than a straightforward link to ill health. Say, for example, someone who is completely healthy, habitually chews on one side of their mouth, for no other reason than they like to, could have altered bone and muscle development one one side of their face due to a habit.

Equally ill health could be a factor. Say, to take the example I gave earlier, they chewed on one side due to their tooth on that side hurting.

So in this way whilst ill health may lead to a habit it is the habit itself which is the causal factor.

Habits such as always chewing on one side, tilting one's head on one side, always sleeping on one side, carrying a shoulder bag on one side could all affect bone development and muscles in the face. None of these habits are necessarily due to illness although they could be.

Yes that makes a lot of sense, generally, and in my case.

What’s the point of knowing this info? You can’t change it. Forget it!

What’s the point of knowing this info? You can’t change it. Forget it!

Well you can, if you habitually always sleep or chew on one side, for example!

I think some people take it as far as always sleeping on their back and wearing face supports.

I was meaning if you’re born with asymmetrical features rather than habit formed ones.

Like medieval superstition with a bit of pop science thrown in, and goes to show humans never change. We’re always suckers for something, anything, that can make us feel superior or else inferior to.....someone else.

My whole body is asymmetrical. One leg longer than the other, one foot bigger than the other, one side of the face more wrinkled than the other. Many people have this to some extend. In my case, I do think the leg thing contributed to bad health - it does lead to pain.

I'm a slow walker and read recently that it means I'll die before the fast walkers. To be honest, I was expecting that anyway - the fast walkers are probably more active and fitter.

"have you ever noticed that all the supposed external 'scientifically proven indicators of good health' in the news are in line with sexist patriarchal norms of what women should look like?

Small waist compared to bust and hips
Symmetrical facial features
Lowish body fat
'Perfect' BMI.

And yet supermodels are as mortal as the rest of us."

I don't know if supermodels have average health or are healthier. I'd expect them to be a bit healthier because of good genes to be honest.

Catwalk models are chosen by other women and gay men for the way they make clothes look good. They're not generally chosen by straight men for their sexy figures, otherwise they'd probably look more like page 3 girls.

Also, in many countries, men prefer women with a higher BMI, but the waist to hip ratio is considered attractive in most places.

Apparently, everyone has more cellulite on one side than the other. There's an explanation for it, but I can't remember now.

I'm not sure about that @Gwenhwyfar. Who do you think owns most top fashion brands? The designers might be female or gay but it's straight men watching the bottom line. Supermodels are just one example anyway. "Good genes" aesthetically doesn't necessarily equal good genes re the absence of disease. Some of the most beautiful women i've met have had cancer diagnosis whilst young etc. And patriarchy is global not national.

I wouldn't expect supermodels to be any healthier than a normal young woman of their age. I would think the likelihood of their getting enough sleep, nutrients, calcium etc is probably a bit lower than average. Maybe even a bit more likely to take laxatives, cocaine, speed (?) maybe a bit more likely to take appetite suppressants, smoke, live on coffee, have disrupted sleep (travel, etc)

I'm only speculating but I wouldn't expect a model to be healthier than her slightly shorter, slightly heavier sister sitting at home who is still feeling very connected (emotionally) to all of her best mates from school.

Interesting though, the face obviously does need to be scaffolded well by jaws meeting each other correctly in order to grow symmetrically. I'm going to look in to mewing and orthotropics a bit more. My bite has been correct for years now though but it was terrible and I do believe that this was the reason my face didn't 'land' symmetrically. Going to google damon braces.

"I'm only speculating but I wouldn't expect a model to be healthier than her slightly shorter, slightly heavier sister sitting at home who is still feeling very connected (emotionally) to all of her best mates from school."

I didn't mean compared to their own close family, with whom they share genes anyway. I meant compared to the population as a whole. Glowing skin and hair, great teeth, etc. can be a sign of lucky genes.
I take your point about the lifestyle not being the greatest.

" Who do you think owns most top fashion brands? The designers might be female or gay but it's straight men watching the bottom line"

Yes, but if they're not the ones choosing the models, then the way models look is more to do with selling clothes (to other women mainly) than being the body size that men like.

I always thought that the asymmetry was caused by ill health and not the other way round? So lots of illness in childhood would affect your features as you are growing.

Just checked and that theory has been debunked but that was the original theory not that if you have an asymmetrical face you are more likely to have ill health.