Avoiding the word “diet” in weight loss programmes can help men engage more effectively with health initiatives, according to researchers who have studied male reluctance around traditional weight-loss services. While approximately 67% of men in the UK are classified as overweight or obese, only 10% to 30% of participants attending weight-loss clubs are male, according to long-standing observations by doctors and researchers.
The Gender Gap in Weight Management
Health practitioners have spent years trying to understand why men suffer from high rates of obesity-related conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and specific forms of cancer yet remain hesitant to join organised weight-loss activities. Overweight men are 25% less likely than women to make the necessary health changes to address these risks. A similar trend exists in the United States, where data published in the American Journal of Men’s Health indicated that women were 32% more likely than men to report using an organised weight-loss programme.
Research published in the journal BMC Public Health shows that men are frequently deterred by female-dominated programmes, which can trigger feelings of self-consciousness, shame, and stigma. Professor Kate Hunt, an expert in Behavioural Sciences and Health at Stirling University, notes that men often view dieting as a predominantly feminine practice associated with unpalatable foods, small portions, and calorie restrictions. Furthermore, research indicates that men tend to dislike unquantifiable terms like “lifestyle change” and prefer structured goals.
Social Sports and Workplace Schemes
To counteract this participation gap, health initiatives that leverage male-dominated social settings have achieved significant success. Programmes based in the workplace or associated with professional sports clubs provide an acceptable masculine outlet built on camaraderie, competition, skill mastery, and peer support. For instance, evaluations of the Football Fans in Training scheme in Scotland demonstrated that overweight men lost an average of 5.6kg through weekly football matches combined with coaching, group support, and food advice.
Similar positive outcomes have emerged from rugby schemes in New Zealand, ice hockey initiatives in Canada, and Man v Fat, a six-a-side football league operating in the UK. In the Man v Fat format, players earn points for both winning matches and losing weight while receiving guidance from health coaches and access to peer support networks on platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook. Participants in a 14-week scheme administered by Solihull Council lost an average of 10kg, with some individuals shedding up to 65kg.
Researchers emphasise that engaging men successfully requires a gender-sensitised approach that aligns with cultural ideals of masculinity rather than working against them. By shifting the focus away from the word “diet” and toward group exercise, skill acquisition, and competitive goal-setting, health organizers can significantly improve male participation and weight loss outcomes.