Excess Weight and Health: Risky Business

It’s important for women and men to understand that carrying extra pounds can affect their health. But the reality is that men and women often have very different attitudes about weight and health. While
women are usually interested in and concerned about their health and preventing problems, men tend to be less concerned—that is, until they experience a health problem. There’s research confirming that men’s interest in health appears to lag behind women’s.
Weight Watchers studies have found that men are less likely than women to take vitamins, scan the media for health-related information, be concerned about their blood cholesterol level, see their doctor for an annual physical checkup, or believe that a positive mental outlook affects their health.

This lack of health awareness is unfortunate for guys, since being overweight puts everyone at increased risk for health problems.That’s because certain diseases don’t discriminate between the sexes. Four major weight-related problems that affect the health of both men and women are type 2 diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and infertility.
Women can help guys reduce their risk of those problems by sharing information and helping them see the light—the fact that losing weight will lower their health risks. Here’s an update on the four conditions, along with the many health benefits that weight loss has to offer women and men.