Beauty is all about VH1

The question has perplexed women for centuries: what makes them attractive?

They say men make a snap-decision about a woman simply by looking at her rough body volume, rather than any specific features.

But the complex formula is set to have women reaching for their calculators. First, you'll need to know your volume in cubic metres, and then divide it by the square of the distance between your chin and your feet.

The researchers used a laser scanning system to measure their subject's (BMI).

This is the weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in metres, mass. More than 50 people were shown 3D movies of female silhouettes in assorted shapes and sizes. Viewers were asked to rate attractiveness on a scale of 1 to 9.

But researchers declined to reveal the "perfect" VHI figure. They say their work is aimed at discovering how we rate attractiveness, rather than proving what body types are attractive.

According to British expert Piers Cornelissen, of Newcastle University, the Hong Kong formula is a slightly more complex version of the Body Mass Index and is commonly used in gyms to assess fitness.