However, the figure 73 percent rises to 81 per cent for women aged 55 and over, the research found.

According to the study for The Telegraph, women today in the UK have high expectations from a partner: two thirds (67 per cent) would rather hold out for the perfect, romantic partner than settle for a man who's "good enough".

The research for Stella magazine revealed that one in five women smokes, but nearly one in three does not drink.

YouGov, the research agency, was commissioned by to interview more than 1,000 women of all ages and backgrounds on everything from family values to their eating habits, and from their views on plastic surgery to those on sex and shopping.

Fifty per cent of women are "very unhappy" or "fairly unhappy" with their body: virtually the same number (49 per cent) are either "very happy" or "fairly happy" with it, the study found.

Almost half of women (49 per cent) think that between 25 and 29 is the best age to get married, and an identical per cent believe that between 25 and 29 is also the best age to have children, the study found.