Stop Eating, Start Running

A new research, funded by the British Heart Foundation and led by scientists from Oxford University, concluded that men piled on more than a stone between 1986 and 2000.

The team conducted a very complex project, that analyzed all the changes in food consumption and body weight in men, over this 15-year period.

Theoretically, since in 2000 there was more food available than in 1986, the average man was believed to be 4.7kg heavier.

Sadly, the scientists were a bit disappointed to see that the actual difference was 7.7kg instead, and concluded that food is not the only culprit here.

They said that the less active lifestyle is also an very important factor in weight gain, and, along with eating more calories than in 1986, it is only natural that men in 2000 are part of the 'Jim Royle generation'.

Dr Mike Knapton, BHF Associate Medical Director, said that “obesity is a major risk factor for diabetes, heart disease and stroke and contributes to premature death and poor quality of life.

“The number of obese men is not going down.

“This research suggests a ticking time bomb for male health, and underlines the importance of both regular exercise and a balanced diet in keeping your weight down and your heart healthy.”

“There could be a number of reasons for the reduction in exercise,” said Oxford’s Dr Peter Scarborough, leader of the research.

“One partial explanation could be that men spend more of their working lives sitting at desks now – manual careers are less common than they used to be.

“We looked at how much food was available over time, accounting for food that’s wasted or thrown away.

“It’s clear people are eating more, and today we’re seeing a continued increase in the amount of food available.”

In 2008, a quarter of England's male population, was classified as obese, unlike only around 7% in 1986/1987.

This new research was published in the British Journal of Nutrition.