Men Avoid Telling Their Partners To Lose Weight

New research shows that men are three times less likely to tell their partner that they need to lose weight, even if it poses a serious health risk, reports The Press Association.

The findings were discovered in a poll carried out by the National Obesity Forum (NOF) and the International Chair on Cardiometabolic Risk, to highlight the negative impacts of carrying excess fat - especially around the stomach area.

31 per cent of men said they were reluctant to tell their loved one that they needed to lose weight, not wanting to hurt their feelings. However, just ten per cent of women would avoid telling their partner to slim down.

In total, 59 per cent of the 2,000 people polled said they were concerned about a loved one's weight; fearing it could lead to serious problems such as heart disease, stroke or Type 2 diabetes, yet a third said they'd never broach the subject.

It's never going to be comfortable conversation, says Professor David Haslam, chair if the NOF. However Christmas is the ideal time for family and friends to approach it as kindly as possible.

Losing weight is extremely hard; it requires discipline, will-power and individuals to confront deeper, more challenging issues like low self-esteem. The actual causes for overeating must be identified too.

An effective method for working through these problems is to try weight-loss hypnotherapy. This can help reprogramme the mind; changing an individual's relationship with food and eventually leading to a happier, healthier outlook.

"If someone close to you has a large waistline, then as long as you do it sensitively, discussing it with them now could help them avoid health risks later down the line and could even save their life," Professor Haslam told BBC News.