A quarter of men are unaware that obesity is the leading cause of type 2 diabetes, according to a new study recently commissioned at The 1:1 Diet by Cambridge Weight Plan.
The latest alarming obesity statistics show two-thirds of the UK’s male population are overweight or obese. A key issue is men feel less able to openly discuss their weight and, as a result, do not receive the right support.
Today (14th November) is World Diabetes Day and there is a call for greater transparency between the health condition and weight, while also putting an end to the shame surrounding dieting. The research claims 33% of British men still believe there is a stigma attached to men being on a diet.
The study follows the DiRECT trial, led by experts at the University of Glasgow and the University of Newcastle. It revealed more than a third (36%) of people with type 2 diabetes, who took part in a dietician-led weight management programme, are in remission two years later.
Professor Michael Lean, Chair of Human Nutrition at Glasgow University, diabetes specialist physician at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, and co-primary investigator of DiRECT, said: “DiRECT has proved that type 2 diabetes can be put into remission for two years for two-thirds of people, if they can lose at least 10 kilos. That is life-changing, and incredibly exciting for the medical profession. The trial was particularly successful for men, who tended to lose a little more weight than women, and had more remissions. I would like people with type 2 diabetes now to look forward to World No-Diabetes Day.”
Chris McDermott, Managing Director at The 1:1 Diet by Cambridge Weight Plan, added: “No one should be ashamed of dieting and wanting to adopt a better lifestyle for the sake of their health. We want to encourage everyone, especially men, to break the stigma when it can have such a positive effect in the long-term.
“The fact so many Brits are unaware of the links between obesity and type 2 diabetes is evidence that further education and support is needed. As the DiRECT trial proved, obese people can lose weight and keep it off with a combination of one-to-one support, eating the right foods and having a set plan to work to. It seems their only barriers, therefore, are openly making the decision to want to lose weight and then selecting the right diet to help them achieve their personal weight loss goals.”
Father-of-two Joe Paterson, 56, from Stockport, was in denial about his obesity for years, but has now managed to reverse his type 2 diabetes after losing five stones on The 1:1 Diet.
He said: “The biggest achievement in losing five stone has been reversing my diabetes. It was such a relief knowing I was going to see my two girls grow up, be able to walk them proudly down the aisle and spend the rest of my life with my wife, Helen, without my condition hanging over my head.
“The one-to-one support I received from my weight loss consultant, Sarah Cash, has been overwhelming. Without it, I would not be the healthy and happy man I am today.”
To learn more about the DiRECT trial head to www.directclinicaltrial.org.uk.
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