According to latest figures from the National Health Survey in 2007-08, men are more likely to be overweight than women, with 68 percent of men now being classified overweight or obese compared with 55 percent for women.
Unfortunately many overweight men don't recognize their beer gut as a problem, with around 44 percent perceiving themselves as being an 'acceptable weight'.
Being overweight increases the likelihood of many lifestyle problems such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and sleep apnoea, many of which are preventable via healthy eating and exercise.
Weight that's around the middle - the apple shape or beer gut that's typical of men's weight distribution - poses another health problem. It puts men at greater risk of heart disease and diabetes than women with their pear shape. This abdominal fat is much more metabolically active than weight on hips and thighs as it enters the main circulation far more quickly and sends up your cholesterol or blood sugars.
On the plus side, abdominal fat is much easier to shift, so once a man makes up his mind to eat less and move more, his weight loss efforts are rewarded much more quickly than most women's.
What weight to aim for?
Use one of these weight measures as a goal for a healthy weight for yourself:
1. Waist circumference
Run a tape measure around your waist at the largest part. Aim for a waist girth that