What Does HWP Mean on a Dating Profile?

What does HWP mean in dating?

HWP is an acronym that stands for “height and weight proportional.” In many cases, the person using HWP to write their dating profile is saying they have an average body type that is not overweight or underweight. What it means to be proportional can be subjective, which can lead to some confusion over exactly what the person using the terms means. In medicine, HWP also indicates a patient’s weight is proportional to their height.

Many interpret HWP as meaning someone is overweight. Some Reddit users believe the person using the term is attempting to hide their body type by not giving exact measurements. While a few view this as the user being dishonest, others feel it’s just part of how online dating works. While many people care about a minimum level of physical attractiveness, that can mean different things to different people. Determining the exact meaning of the user depends on interpreting the term with the rest of the profile. If the profile seems to focus more on personality traits, they may be less interested in body type. Those who seem to emphasize appearance may be looking for someone with a specific body type. Some people add it to their profiles or use it while texting on a dating app to describe their personal appearance. In this case, many interpret it to mean that the person is overweight, but it may simply mean someone who has an average body type. For example, “Active HWP man searching for a like-minded person interested in fun and adventure.” Others include HWP in their profiles to communicate their preferences for the body type of their potential partners. Many interpret this to mean that the user is not interested in dating overweight people without coming out and saying it. For example, “Searching for an outgoing HWP individual who takes care of themselves and loves staying active.”

HWP may mean different things depending on gender. Some feel that men and women use the term differently, with men using it to highlight athleticism and women using it to communicate confidence in their appearance and signal that they align with societal beauty standards. This difference in perception about how the term is used may be due to how men and women value attractiveness in a mate, with men placing a higher value on appearance and body type than women. Men tend to prioritize appearance no matter what their sexual orientation. Women may also be less open to putting specific details about their bodies online because they are more likely to have a negative body image. They also report experiencing higher instances of unwanted behavior than male users. This can make them more cautious about providing details in an attempt to safely use online dating sites.

Origins of HWP in Dating

HWP was originally used in personal ads that appeared in newspapers. Space limitations in print ads made people create abbreviations. This allowed them to get the information across in the smallest amount of space possible. Abbreviations often focused on describing the marital status, ethnic group, and gender identity. Personal ad acronyms also describe personal traits, like marriage-minded (MM), good sense of humor (GSOH), and age (##YO).

Many acronyms from personal ads are used in online dating. As dating moved online to early websites like Match.com, people still used the abbreviations they were familiar with from print personal ads. Even though there was little to no space limitation for online dating profiles, the abbreviations caught on. People continue to use them on platforms like Bumble, Tinder, and Hinge. The use of acronyms in online dating has evolved with the culture. While many of the older abbreviations are still in use, new ones – like ENM (Ethically Mon-Monogamous), NP (Nesting Partner), or NBY (Non-Binary) – are now used to reflect current cultural norms.

Common Dating Profile Acronyms

People have many acronyms to choose from to signal their preferences. These acronyms allow them to quickly give readers key details about who they are and what they’re looking for in a partner. This may help them to get to know someone better when online dating. Here are a few of the most common dating acronyms: DDF: Drug & Disease Free – They don’t use illegal drugs or have sexually transmitted diseases or infections. For example, “DDF NBY looking for NSA,” meaning, “I’m a drug and disease-free non-binary person looking for a no-strings-attached relationship.” FWB: Friends With Benefits – They are looking for a friendship that includes sexual activity without committing to a romantic relationship. For example, “NBM looking for FWB,” meaning, “I’ve never been married, and I’m looking for a friend with benefits.” ISO: In Search Of – This is usually used to indicate the type of person or relationship they are searching for. For example, “ISO SF for NP,” meaning, “In search of a single female for a nesting partner.” LTR: Long-Term Relationship – This indicates the user is looking for a committed relationship. For example, “ENM ISO LTR,” meaning, “I’m ethically non-monogamous in search of a long-term relationship.” IRL: In Real Life – This means a person wants to connect in real life or communicate something that is different than their online persona. For example, “I’m good at texting, but a little shy IRL.” NBM: Never Been Married – This means the person is not married or divorced. For example, “NBM ISO LTR,” meaning, “I’ve never been married, but I’m in search of a long-term commitment.” NSA: No Strings Attached – No strings attached means they are looking for a casual physical relationship with no romance or friendship. For example, “ISO FWB or NSA,” meaning, “I’m in search of a friend with benefits or a no-strings-attached situation.” TDH: Tall, Dark, & Handsome – This is how someone would describe themselves or what they are looking for, usually in a male-presenting partner. For example, “TDH ISO same,” meaning, “I’m tall, dark, and handsome, and I’m looking for someone who is also tall, dark, and handsome.” VGL: Very Good Looking – This is also how a user would describe themselves or what they are looking for, but it could be used to describe any gender identity. “ISO LTR with VGL woman,” meaning, “I’m in search of a long-term relationship with a very good-looking woman.” WTR: Willing To Relocate – This means the person is willing to move to be near someone or wants someone who will move closer to them. For example, “I’m a divorced father ISO LTR with someone WTR,” meaning that they’re interested in a long-term relationship with someone who will ultimately move to be close to them.