Researchers at Anglia Ruskin University found in interviews with 24 men aged 30 and over that men associated diet programs with restriction, hunger and failure. The fact that traditional programs target women and that dieting is seen as a “female domain” causes men to feel hesitant during the weight-loss process.
The research found that partner support can make it easier for men to lose weight. According to the findings, programs aimed at men should emphasize healthy eating instead of restrictive diets, physical activities focused on strength and endurance, as well as quick results and aesthetic gains.
Why it matters
These findings indicate that weight-loss programs should be assessed not only according to their nutritional rules but also according to how men perceive these programs. Since viewing dieting as a female domain can cause men to approach the process with distance, the language and target audience of programs are as important as their content. The effect of partner support shows that the weight-loss process cannot be left solely to individual willpower and that people close to them can facilitate this process. However, since the study is based on interviews with 24 men, the question of how the proposed approach will resonate with men of different ages and living circumstances remains open.