Single men in their 40s are apparently in such demand that they suffer from "hotness delusion syndrome", according to a KPMG demographer.
At age 44, there are 15 per cent fewer available males than females in Australia and it's believed that ratio is similar in this country.
In fact, the male to female ratio is probably even worse because I don't know many men of 44 who actively seek out women of 44 to play with.
They generally go for women a good 10 years younger than themselves - with considerable success.
The imbalance means that men in their 40s receive more attention than their looks, personalities and attributes deserve. Hence the term "hotness delusion syndrome".
Interestingly, the hotness delusion syndrome can also be found among women in their mid-20s. There are more young men of 25 than there are women and they also have to compete with older men for the girls' attention. So if you are wondering why the lippy blonde with the muffin top thinks she's the business, that's why.
But surely this is not just about the law of supply and demand? It's a buyer's market. If women don't find the potbellied bore with a comb-over as irresistibly sexy as he thinks he is, they should just stay home with a good book. And if young men find young women too stuck up and snotty to bother with, why not just hang with their mates, bide their time and have their pick of chicks in their 40s.
And hotness delusion syndrome can happen to anyone - especially when alcohol's involved. Give me a couple of drinks and a dance floor and I'm absolutely convinced I'm Beyonce. At least until I see the photos on Facebook the next day.
No, with my track record, I'm not going to be pointing the finger at anyone for their deluded behaviour.
