Men prize Rab's beer belly over 'puny' six pack

HEALTHY eating campaigns are doomed to failure because many Scottish men would rather have a figure like Rab C Nesbitt than Ewan McGregor, according to new research.

Scientists found that a large number of the Scottish males they interviewed prized their beer bellies because it meant they did not look weak.

The trend was so pronounced, according to the study, that some men of ‘normal’ weight even wanted to be fatter.

The team from Queen Margaret University College, Edinburgh, concluded that the Scottish Executive would be better encouraging men to take more exercise rather than worrying about what they eat.

Dr Kerri McPherson, who carried out the study, said: "The research clearly showed that Scottish men would rather be overweight than considered puny. Worryingly, not only did overweight men not want to lose weight, normal weight men actually wanted to gain weight.

"This would put them at increased risk of weight-related health complications, such as Scotland’s big three: coronary heart disease, cancer and stroke."

The research was carried out on 80 shift workers in Edinburgh and Glasgow, who were shown a series of drawings of a male figure in his underpants, starting with a skinny physique with protruding ribs and hip bones, right through to a grossly overweight body shape with a big beer belly.

Despite a culture full of images of slim movie stars, models and musicians, all of the men picked as their ideal body shape one of the pictures showing a clinically overweight male.

McPherson said: "Men can try to increase their body weight through fat or muscle. But the reality is that they do not put in the effort in the gym to do that through muscle, so the weight is put on as fat."

And she believes that the findings mirror the views of men throughout Scotland, and the rest of the world, regardless of class.

"I would imagine that this goes across the socio-economic spectrum," she said. "It does tend to be lower socio-economic classes who are tarred with the brush of being unhealthy, which can come down to finances and access to health facilities.

"But the phenomenon of wanting to be big will go across the board. These are the types of men which women express a preference for."

She is calling on the Executive to focus increasingly on encouraging men to exercise more, rather than eat less, as she believes they are more likely to do that.

And she also suggests that public health campaigns should use men’s vanity to encourage them to be more healthy.

"Contrary to popular belief, men care greatly about how they look. We are suggesting that body aesthetics could be used to bolster the message to people to be more healthy.

"It is not just overweight men who need to be targeted by healthy-living messages. Normal weight men also need to be encouraged to maintain their weight at a healthy level."

Her findings are echoed by George McAulay, chairman of the UK Men’s Movement.

He said: "I used to have a terrific physique and now I have a terrifically bad physique, I am fat and flabby.

"But I am very strong and I see young guys in the gym looking at me enviously because of the weights I can lift. They would sooner have the bulk than the litheness and agility.

"Since time began, young men and boys, and women, have been impressed by the well-built male because it is indicative of basic raw power. But we should be looking beyond that."

Obesity levels in the UK have soared in recent years. Already topping the European obesity league table, the number of Britons with weight problems has trebled in the last 20 years, partly as a result of eating junk food.

Recent Scottish Executive statistics revealed that 43% of Scottish men were overweight with a further 20% categorised as obese. The one glimmer of hope in McPherson’s research was that the obese men in the study expressed a desire to lose weight, even if their ideal body shape remained overweight.

McPherson said: "These men were already suffering from health problems, which is probably why they wanted to do something about their weight."

The Scottish Executive Healthy Living Campaign is aimed at ridding Scotland of its obesity problem through a combination of healthy eating and regular exercise.

People are encouraged to eat five portions of fruit and vegetables each day and improve activity levels as part of their daily life, such as by walking up stairs instead of taking the lift.

A Scottish Executive spokeswoman today defended the Executive’s record on obesity, but acknowledged that changing people’s attitudes was an uphill battle.

She said: "Campaigns do work. Many people used to think that drink driving and domestic abuse were acceptable.

"There is nothing puny about being fit and healthy. Clearly we need to encourage men to take more responsibility for their own health and we are under no illusions that changing Scottish attitudes will be easy.

"Our Healthy Living Campaign is for the long term, to encourage changes in attitudes towards healthy eating and healthy lifestyles. This won’t happen overnight and success will be measured over decades."

A mass of evidence

RECENT statistics from the Scottish Executive revealed 43% of men in Scotland were overweight, with a further 20% classified as obese.

A simple calculation known as the body mass index (BMI) is used to gauge whether a person is overweight.

The BMI is calculated from an individual’s weight and height, and is compared to a standardised chart. For example, a BMI score of between 26 and 40 is classified as overweight or obese.

The overweight, especially the obese, are at greater risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke and other health problems.

Last week, Scotland’s deputy chief medical officer Professor Peter Donnelly warned that a combination of poor diet, obesity and lack of exercise is the biggest threat to life expectancy levels.