Almost 3 in 4 men would like to lose weight but few seek help from GP - survey

Michael Bolton

Nearly three in four men would like to lose weight and would speak to their GP about doing so, but just over a quarter have done so, a survey shows.

A survey from Ipsos B&A on behalf of Novo Nordisk Ireland shows 74 per cent of men would like to lose weight. However, only 27 per cent have spoken to their GP about it.

The survey shows 87 per cent of men say people who are overweight experience stigma.

The survey also says 39 per cent of Irish men found it difficult to talk openly about their weight.

45 per cent of men say a spouse or partner is the person they would be most likely to listen to for advice about overweight and obesity, ahead of a close friend (38 per cent) or a wider group of friends (21 per cent).

The survey also looked at culture and socialising in Ireland, focusing on pub culture as well as attitudes to sport, food, and humour.

One in three men identified these as triggers for weight gain, while 41 per cent of women also recognised these issues as impacting men’s weight.

Commenting on the findings, Dr Colm Galligan, Medical Affairs Director at Novo Nordisk Ireland, said, “These findings show that for many men in Ireland, they want support to address weight-related concerns, however, stigma and sometimes shame may be preventing them from seeking support.

"Obesity is a complex chronic health condition, and we need to move beyond outdated ideas of willpower or personal failure. Spouses or partners can play a key role in encouraging men they care about to take the first step towards appropriate healthcare advice and to seek support without judgement.”