British men are under more pressure than ever before to look good and are becoming increasingly critical of their own bodies, a new study reveals today.
British men are under more pressure than ever before to look good and are becoming increasingly critical of their own bodies, a new study reveals today.
Norwich Union Healthcare’s "Mr Vain" study, which surveyed over 500 men, suggests that a third of men hate their stomachs, 20% are unhappy with their legs and a quarter admit they have issues with their entire body.
Aspiring to the male celebrity physique appears to be fuelling this new trend. The research found that England captain David Beckham has the body most men aspire to (22%), followed by Brad Pitt (12%) and Welsh rugby hero Gavin Henson (9%).
But it’s not just celebrities who are influencing the way British men feel about their bodies - a quarter of men (26%) admit their partner puts pressure on them to work out and keep their bodies in shape.
Health and fitness expert Dean Hodgkin, said: “Men’s attitudes to their bodies are changing. They have always focused on building muscles but other trends are beginning to emerge. Now it seems men exercise because they’re keen to lose weight (14%) or feel guilty about over-indulging (32%), and it could be affecting their overall health and fitness.”
The pressure to look good is even leading men to fool themselves and others about their levels of fitness. The study found that a quarter of men lie to partners and mates about how often they exercise or go to the gym, while over a third (36%) exaggerate how much they can lift and one in five lie about their weight.
Dean Hodgkin continued: “By putting pressure on themselves and being unrealistic about their fitness levels, men could be doing themselves more harm than good when exercising and working out. Men need to understand that it’s all about being in tune with your own body, not comparing yourself with others or trying to look like somebody else.”
Dean Hodgkin advises men not to focus on their looks but on their health as a whole. They should seek advice from health and fitness experts on how to achieve a healthy lifestyle and therefore feel more confident about their bodies.
With this in mind, Dean has developed some top tips:
- Don’t be too self-critical – it’s good to be realistic about your body but don’t get too obsessive about your looks
- Don’t compare yourself with others – you need to be in tune with your own body if you want to feel good about yourself
- Consult a fitness instructor about developing a health and fitness programme tailored to your body and your needs
- Remember, there’s nothing like a bit of cardiovascular exercise to release endorphins, the "happy hormones", and give you a confidence and mood boost
- Become your own personal trainer and health advisor by using Norwich Union Healthcare’s Personal Health Manager and developing a realistic action plan to improve your health and wellbeing
Norwich Union Healthcare’s Personal Health Manager is a unique online resource offering a variety of services including advice on lifestyle, health and exercise, a health planner and a 24-hour helpline. Simply log on to www.personalhealthmanager.co.uk for more details and a free one month trial.
Dr Doug Wright, spokesperson for Norwich Union Healthcare, commented: “Men are clearly feeling pressure from all sides to look good and this is resulting in them becoming very critical of their own bodies. Men need to regain their body confidence and remember that it’s about developing a healthy body both inside and out and not about living up to anyone’s expectations but their own.”
-ends-
Media contacts:
Zoë Miller, Lexis PR, 020 7908 6413, zmiller@lexispr.com
Chris Lauwerys, Lexis PR, 020 7908 6465, clauwerys@lexispr.com
Norwich Union Press Office contacts:
Lorna Wiltshire 020 7662 1013 or 07800 695 150
Cheryl Cox 01904 452617 or 07800 695 275
James Evans 01904 452791 or 07800 699 525
Notes to editors:
Case studies available on request.
ICM Research interviewed a random sample of 500 men aged 18+ by telephone. Interviews were conducted across the country and the results have been weighted to the profile of all adults. ICM is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. Further information at www.icmresearch.co.uk
About Norwich Union Healthcare
Norwich Union Healthcare was founded in 1990 as the healthcare arm of Norwich Union and now provides a range of income protection and private medical insurance products that cover over 870,000 lives. It is one of the largest providers of income protection and private medical insurance in the UK.
Norwich Union acquired Occupational Health provider, Private Health Care, on 01 October 2005. We now offer an extensive range of occupational health services to corporate clients. These services are delivered by Norwich Union Occupational Health Ltd.
Norwich Union Healthcare is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority and is a member of the Association of British Insurers and the Financial Ombudsman Service.
Norwich Union’s news releases and a selection of images are available from Aviva’s internet press centre at www.aviva.com/media.