Men less likely to notice weight gain
A 2013 study from the University of London found that while two thirds of men and around half of women in their early 40s were overweight or obese, the men were far less likely to realise they were carrying excess weight. It concluded that for men, being overweight has become "normalised" and is more socially acceptable.
For some men, weight issues are a "female thing", says weight loss surgeon Dr Sally Norton from the Spire Hospital in Bristol, UK. "Men only take their weight seriously when it affects their health, or they can't play with their kids without getting out of breath."
Yet this could be changing. A slimmed-down Jamie Oliver has gone public with his health kick, revealing he has given up alcohol during the week and favours healthy foods such as seaweed, nuts and eggs.
Research on behalf of Alpha Man magazine also found that 82 per cent of men "feel more stressed about not having an impressive physique than they did five years ago". The survey of 1200 men found that 69 per cent would give up alcohol forever in return for a perfect body, and 30 per cent would sacrifice a year of their lives if it meant having their dream physique. So what help is out there for men like these?
"In general," says Professor Kate Hunt, head of Glasgow University's research on gender and health, "there's a lack of support for men, who find dieting clubs and weight loss programmes a feminised space."
When a men-only alternative is offered, research finds that men's weight improves dramatically. Football Fans In Training (FFIT), a study by Glasgow University, began in June 2011. The 12-week programme to get middle-aged fans in shape, run by 13 clubs in the Scottish Professional Football League, is hailed as a breakthrough. The 374 men who participated in the scheme lost on average 4.9kg more than those who were simply given a weight-management booklet.
"The FFIT study shows that men are keen and able to make positive changes to their health in the right circumstances, and the football club is a great setting for health initiatives for men," says Hunt.
Owning up
Researchers from the Universities of Aberdeen, Bournemouth and Stirling who analysed evidence from weight loss trials found that men prefer the use of simple "business-like'" language and humour (used sensitively) in strategies to tackle obesity, and also benefit from the moral support of other men. Weight loss programmes designed with men in mind could well be more effective, they concluded.
Man v Fat is the brainchild of journalist Andrew Shanahan, who has had weight issues himself His site and online magazine were crowd-funded, with support from the National Obesity Forum and the British Dietetic Association.
"Men get a lot from talking to other men," he says. "Owning a weight problem and showing they are doing something about it is empowering."
Railway contractor Garry King, 46, also knew that mixed-sex diet clubs were not for him.
"I was obese," he says. "Cutting down on my eating was difficult, as I used food to cope with stress. I needed support, but the thought of discussing my weight in a big group of mainly women with a patronising leader like Marjorie Dawes, in Little Britain, filled me with dread."
In September 2012, Garry joined a men-only group run by LighterLife and lost nine stone (57kg) in eight months. LighterLife groups are led by a counsellor, who helps participants tackle the causes of overeating.
A men-only group can help with cultural issues that affect men. For some, a night out can involve several pints.
"The beer belly is a symbol of manhood. If a man can still get his trousers on, he'll fool himself he's still slim, even if his gut hangs over the waistband," says Norton.
Portion size is an issue, too. "Appetite has been codified as a male attribute. So we hear expressions like, 'He just has a healthy appetite', which you'd never hear to describe a woman," says Shanahan.
Shift work can have a negative impact on digestion and weight-regulating hormones. And men whose work involves being on the road rely on takeaways and processed food.
Nutritional adviser Rachel McGuinness says a lot of her male clients follow the "Sumo Diet".
"They don't eat all day, but have a massive meal in the evening, like a sumo wrestler. They have very slow digestion as a result and put on weight. Many single men will rely on high-fat, high-sugar processed foods."
Marriage is known to lead to male weight gain and, according to a recent study by Northwestern University in Illinois, so does fatherhood. And while the "dad bod" has become desirable on social media, it's dangerous to wear your paunch with pride.
"These are men who kept fit in their teens and 20s by playing sport," says Rachel. "In their 30s and 40s, they've given up the rugby and football but remain part of the club culture - drinking and eating as if they are still players."
But while male culture puts men at risk of obesity, they lose weight far more easily than women, once they decide to tackle it, thanks to their higher ratio of lean body mass.
In the world of public health, using the word "fat" is often taboo. "But men don't want weight issues couched in euphemisms," says Shanahan. "They like a more blatant approach. The first question asked as you land on the site is, 'Are you sick of being fat?' - and users don't shy away from answering."
Written by Marina Gask. First appeared on Stuff.co.nz.
Related links:
Detox versus diet: which one is best?
Simple tricks to beat the bulge
5 reasons why you may be struggling to lose weight