Study: Men's attitudes toward diets may hinder weight loss efforts - Sarmad
A recent scientific study has shown that some men’s perception of diets as a women-centric pattern associated with food deprivation can affect their willingness to join weight-loss programs and their ability to stick with them.
The British newspaper The Daily Mail reported that researchers from Anglia Ruskin University in the UK conducted interviews with 24 men aged over 30 to explore their experiences with weight-loss programs and the factors influencing their ability to adhere to them.
The results revealed that several participants viewed diets as a “feminine” concept, linking them to dietary restrictions, deprivation, and the difficulty of maintaining results over the long term.
Researchers noted that some men consider diet programs short-term and hard to sustain, while others feel rejected or rebellious when asked to give up preferred foods or lifestyles.
The study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, suggested that avoiding the term “diet” in programs aimed at men, and instead focusing on improving lifestyle and achieving tangible results, could encourage their participation and persistence.
The findings also highlighted the importance of partner support in successful weight loss, with several participants reporting that their wives or partners helped them choose healthy foods and reduce the consumption of unhealthy options.
Researchers identified other factors that may make weight loss more difficult for some men, including limited knowledge of nutrition and calories, work pressures and long working hours, and the preconceived belief that weight-loss attempts may end in failure.
For many participants, the motivation to lose weight was linked to the desire to improve appearance and body image, as well as health concerns, including the risk of heart disease.
Researchers proposed designing weight-loss programs that cater to men’s needs, emphasizing simplicity and early results, while leveraging social competition, involving partners, or providing mentors to support participants in changing their habits.
Results from such studies indicate that the success of weight-loss programs is not solely dependent on diet, but is also influenced by how these programs are presented and the surrounding social and psychological factors.
