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British men seem to like what they see in the mirror - with a quarter in denial about their weight problem, campaigners have said. As the UK continues to battle the bulge, men seem to be ignoring the fact that they are carrying excess baggage - and increasing their risk of illnesses such as cancer and heart disease. Cancer Research UK called for more men to take heed of the warnings and change their unhealthy lifestyles. A national poll of more than 2,000 men asked whether they considered themselves underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese. Just 1% considered themselves obese and 39% said they were overweight - but national statistics show that 65% of men are actually overweight or obese. The vast majority - 54% - considered themselves a normal weight and 6% thought they were underweight. The research also found that 65% of men had no idea that being overweight or obese increased their chance of developing cancer. And three-quarters (75%) did not know that being physically inactive also increases the risk of the disease. Only 22% of men ate the recommended minimum of five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. The poll also found that two-thirds (65%) failed to meet the recommended target of 30 minutes of moderate exercise five times a week. The research came as Cancer Research UK launched its Man Alive campaign, to raise awareness of cancer among men and highlight ways to reduce the risk. Figures suggest that obesity may be responsible for around 4,000 cases of cancer in UK men each year. Recent research also suggested that obesity increases the risk of bowel cancer by 60%. It is also thought that obesity doubles the risk of being diagnosed with kidney, oesophageal and stomach cancer. Professor Jane Wardle, director of Cancer Research UK's Health Behaviour Unit, said: "In the space of 10 years the rate of obesity for British men has increased two thirds. Women are overweight too but our research shows that more of them know they have a problem and that's the first step in putting it right. With so many more men now at an increased risk of cancer, education is more important then ever." |