While it’s not always apparent, men make up a significant percentage of dieters. At any point in time, 40% of the adult population is actively trying to lose weight. Of those attempting to lose weight, 40% are men. So while not receiving as much media, medical, or industry attention, men do in fact care about their weight, fitness, and health.

They may be looking for improved athletic performance or just more energy to keep up with the kids. Some realize, as research demonstrates, that being overweight or obese can impact one’s career prospects or advancement. Probably most importantly, most men know that losing weight is the single most effective intervention to decrease their risk of hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease, and strokes.

However, men don’t try to lose weight in quite the same way as women do. Men are much less inclined to join structured weight loss programs such as Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig. Men shy away from the group setting imposed by Weight Watchers so they can avoid “the embarrassment.” They often express dissatisfaction with food choices offered by Jenny Craig or Nutrisystems. In short, men seek a program that is private in nature and tailored to their individual needs and tastes.

Given the relatively greater ease with which men lose weight, the physicians and staff at Jumpstart Medicine are always eager to help men succeed in their weight loss efforts. We design programs to accommodate existing medical conditions like hypertension and diabetes. We address the stress and complexity that comes with balancing work demands, personal interests, and family life. Our goal is to make you as comfortable as possible while also achieving greater weight loss than you’ve ever been able to accomplish on your own. On average, our male patients lose 3 to 5 pounds per week.

Health Risks Of Male Obesity

The health risks of obesity in men are well documented. They include higher incidence of hypertension, heart disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes.

Abdominal Obesity

Abdominal obesity – excess fat around the middle – is an added health risk for men as they typically store fat around their stomach. Men who suffer from stress are doubly at risk as stress is known to cause increased production of the hormone cortisol, which stimulates fat accumulation around the abdomen. Abdominal obesity is one of several interlinked conditions (the others being raised cholesterol, hypertension, insulin resistance, high levels of inflammatory and clotting components in the blood) that together form the condition known as Metabolic Syndrome. This health condition has been identified as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. An estimated 1 in 3 obese males has Metabolic Syndrome.

Hypertension

Hypertension (high blood pressure), sometimes called the “silent killer”, is a major contributor to heart disease. It affects 7 out of 10 obese men. In addition, obesity is an independent risk factor for heart disease. For example, atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) is 10 times higher in obese men compared to those who are not obese. Male obesity is also associated with an increased risk of prostate and colon cancer. It is also a significant cause of type 2 diabetes, with almost 80 percent of type 2 diabetics being classified as obese.

Reducing Weight Improves Health

The good news for obese men is that even modest weight loss can bring noticeable health benefits. For instance, weight reduction of only 10-20 pounds can reduce or even eliminate the need for diabetic or hypertensive medication. In addition, weight loss raises good (HDL) cholesterol and reduces bad (LDL) cholesterol, thus reducing the risk of heart disease. The more body fat that is lost, the greater the health improvement, especially if it includes abdominal fat from around the middle.

Diabetes

There is a direct link between overweight and diabetes: More than 80 percent of men with diabetes are overweight or obese. You can lower your risk for developing type 2 diabetes by losing weight. While gaining 11 to 18 pounds doubles one’s risk for type 2 diabetes, losing a similar amount of weight lowers one’s risk for type 2 diabetes by 50 percent.

Cancer

Research shows that overweight and obesity are associated with an increased risk for some types of cancer. These include colon, gallbladder, prostate, and kidney cancer. Maintaining a healthy weight may decrease cancer risk.

Sleep apnea

This disorder, which causes interrupted breathing during sleep, is more common in obese persons. Studies show that weight loss improves symptoms of sleep apnea.

Arthritis

Excess weight is hard on the bones. For every 2-pound increase in your weight, the risk for developing arthritis increases by 9 to 13 percent. Symptoms of arthritis improve with weight loss.

If you think you’ve heard enough, there’s more: Excess weight is associated with increased risk for gallbladder disease, incontinence, and increased surgical risk and a decrease in sexual performance. Finally, obesity affects quality of life as well. Excess weight can lead to depression and anxiety. In general, the more overweight you are, the more likely you are to have health problems. Even modest weight loss of 5 or 10 pounds can greatly lower your risk factors.