men

Us guys can be pretty daft...at least when it comes to our health. June 9th to June 15th was men's health week and it is as good a time as any for us men to take an honest look at ourselves and ask: Am I healthy? If the answer is "no", "not as healthy as I could be", or "Are you kidding - I played football in high school", it may be time to figure out how you can answer that question with a confident "yes".

Here are some less-than-cheery facts about men's health that can hopefully act as a wake-up call.

No, it's not just your imagination: men eat more meat than women do. And women consume more fruits and vegetables than the guys.

But who eats the most eggs? Yogurt? Oysters? And who is at most risk for food-borne illness? A recent population survey of 14,000 American adults had at least a few surprises.

As it turns out, magazines show no sexual discrimination when it comes to damaging body image. Research suggests that younger men who read "Lad's Magazines" (Maxim, FHM, Stuff and Blender) may be psychologically harmed by images of perfect male physiques.

The Sunday Times announced that John Prescott (former Deputy Prime Minister of the UK) suffered with bulimia for many years. The news quickly made national headlines. Prescott has spoken candidly about the illness, emphasizing that he wanted to reveal his struggle with bulimia in order to help others who have struggled on in silence.

Outside all the dramatic weight loss programs and hyped up testimonials - there are people who quietly go about changing themselves.

This story is very encouraging. I was excited to discover that Diet Blog played a role (again - reader comments on this blog directly impact and help people).

Eric's Story At age 22, Eric weighed around 230 lbs (height 5' 10"). He claims that he was "always a fat kid".

During a particularly stressful time with a terminally ill grandparent, Eric gained a further 30lbs. The reasons were not complicated: comfort foods, stress, and no exercise.

Then came a crossroads - Eric's grandparent passed away. It was now time to move on.

In the world of the diet industry - it seems that men are the next big "pot of gold". Weight Watchers are campaigning, and even have created "workouts just for men". Perhaps men have some extra muscle groups somewhere that women don't?

I know a number of women who deadlift and bench press, for example. They haven't turned into the incredible bulk - but they do cop some subtle jibes from other women.

Ever wonder why men and women are so different when it comes to dieting and weight loss?

A new book by Karen Miller-Kovach, She Loses, He Loses: The Truth About Men, Women, and Weight Loss explores these differences.

New research shows that women are far more likely than men to try different diet plans. Women are also more likely to try a low-fat or a low-carbohydrate diet.

Researchers at universities must have a lot of spare time on their hands. Recent research shows that men who are hungry (rather than satiated) find heavier women more attractive.