Men with partners may find iteasier to lose weight, a new study exploring gendered attitudes to dieting has found
Traditional dieting programmes are less effective for men, the study by a team from Anglia Ruskin University claims, as they are more often aimed towards women and seen as overly-restrictive
Researchers interviewed 24 men aged 30-plus about their experiences of weight loss programmes to draw their findings. These were majority white, married men, the study notes, identifying potential biases in the research
They found that men viewed dieting very negatively, associating it with restriction, hunger and short-term programmes that inevitably lead to failure
One man told the study: “When I’m looking at doing any kind of restrictions or dieting a part of me kind of rebels against it as it were.”
Another key attitude uncovered was that dieting is a “feminised space,” leading men to feel self-conscious and uncomfortable when it comes to weight management
However, the study also found that many men were able to overcome these issues with the support of their partner. In these situations, researchers say the man often acts in a “subordinated role by having the spouse prepare meals and provide advice”
A participant said: “For me, it was having the support of my wife. Without that, I wouldn’t have done it because she buys the food, she does the cooking in the evenings because I’m not home till late. If it wasn’t for her doing that then I wouldn’t have got as far as I did”
Another added: “The snacks she buys me are apples rather than chocolates and stuff like that. That’s half the battle”
Researchers say that the findings show how weight management programmes aimed towards men will be more successful if they shift away from the dieting aspect and more towards “male-personalised” angles
This could include emphasising healthier foods, rather than restrictive dieting, and physical or sports challenges that focus on boosting strength and stamina
Justin Roberts, co-author and professor of nutritional physiology at Anglia Ruskin University, said: “Obesity is a major public health issue, so we wanted to evaluate adult male perceptions and experiences of weight-loss initiatives and also understand the support mechanisms used by men when targeting weight loss.”
He told The Times: “We found that for weight-loss programmes to appeal to men, they should involve quick wins, early rewards and a degree of social competitiveness around aesthetic gains, ahead of health-specific requirements. This could involve sport or physical challenges, perhaps focused on strength or stamina.”
