While it is socially unacceptable for a woman to be very overweight, for a man it is almost accepted, writes Ciarán Brennan
AUSTRALIAN MEN are known to joke about their beer bellies, referring to them as the awning over the toy shop or the veranda over the toolshed.
Such an ambivalence about being overweight has been backed up by a new national survey in Australia showing perception problems with male weight.
A national health survey of 34,000 adults, published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, indicated that a large number of men were in denial about their weight.
More than 60 per cent of men have a body mass index (BMI) over 30, making them clinically overweight, yet only 36 per cent perceive themselves to be.
But it is not just an Australian phenomenon. Three years ago, research from the Irish Cancer Society (ICS) found that almost half of Irish men deny that they have weight problems.
While national data shows that 66 per cent of Irish men are above normal weight - 46 per cent are overweight while a further 20 per cent are obese - just 22 per cent of those surveyed by the ICS admitted to having any weight problem.
More than 40 per cent were in denial about their weight and not one person surveyed described himself as obese.
Being overweight is a key risk factor in the development of certain cancers and the survey looked at men's knowledge and practice of ways to prevent cancer, as well as their attitudes to being overweight.
Other key results showed that only 38 per cent of men attempt to avoid being overweight; only half claim to have a balanced diet; just 54 per cent were physically active; while 40 per cent did not know the recommended daily intake of fruit and vegetables.
And things are not getting any better. Just last week a report published by Croí, the West of Ireland cardiology foundation, in partnership with the cardiology department of University Hospital Galway, revealed that men are more overweight and have higher blood pressure than women but are less likely to do anything about it.
The report is a culmination of research and on-the-ground work in their pioneering community-based cardiovascular disease prevention programme: Heart Smart, Your Heart is Your Life. Participants in the Heart Smart programme were randomly invited to avail of a free cardiac screening, in a range of community settings across the West of Ireland.
All participants with elevated risk factors were referred to their GP and were then invited to return for a six-month Heart Smart follow-up.
Among the key factors monitored over the two-year period were cholesterol levels, smoking status, blood pressure levels and BMI.
"Through this very small programme we are able to demonstrate that intervention does bring about change," says Croí chief executive Neil Johnson. "We do achieve significant results except in one area which is BMI which relates to weight.
"There were no changes in weight. From the male point of view there is evidence that men in particular are more overweight than women and again there is absolutely no willingness among men to consider weight as a serious risk factor."
Social norms and culture could explain men's ambivalence about being overweight.
"I think traditionally weight from a male perspective is viewed as a female issue, that it is something you hear women talking about, their weight, going on a diet," says Johnson. "For men it is not an issue. There is an image factor - it is socially unacceptable for a woman to be grossly overweight whereas for a man it is almost accepted."
But those men are putting themselves at risk, according to Dr Jim Crowley, consultant cardiologist, University Hospital Galway.
Being overweight contributes to the development of many problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, snoring and sleep apnoea.
"Being overweight is very much associated with heart disease, cancer and diabetes and we are seeing huge increases in diabetes all the way down to young age groups in their 20s and teens. This is a phenomenon in western society but we are beginning to catch up in Ireland very quickly," he says.
High fat, high sugar diets and lack of exercise are the chief culprits.
"The incidence of mortality from heart disease has been improving over the last few years, but there is a danger that all of that benefit may be wiped away by the obesity epidemic," says Crowley.
It is ironic that men are continuing to ignore their weight despite a plethora of health messages from various sources. Johnson accepts that there could be a little bit of health information fatigue creeping in.
"Information fatigue to a point but there are still a lot of key messages that have to be got out there that people are not aware of," he says.
Through its Heart Smart programme, which provides community-based screening at marts, shopping centres, pharmacies and community halls, Croí is trying to get the message across.
"We are trying to bring it down to the personal level," says Crowley. "When you are actually told that you personally are the guy that has the problem, the messages become a lot more real."