Men & Obesity: 5 Key Factors

Men make up 70% of overweight individuals in the U.S. The nonprofit group Building Healthier America has pinpointed five key health factors often linked to their growing waistlines.

Medically reviewed by Philip Levy, MD

Tackle these health goals to keep yourself trim.

1. Cholesterol

High blood cholesterol is linked to heart attack and stroke.

What you can do now: High cholesterol has no warning sign, so have your cholesterol levels checked. Both exercise and healthy eating help reduce cholesterol levels. 

2. Blood Pressure

High blood pressure contributes to heart attacks and strokes. Have it checked, too.

What you can do now: Eat healthy, reduce salt, quit smoking, limit alcohol, and learn to control stress. 

3. Blood Sugar

High blood sugar levels can signal the presence of type 2 diabetes.  A simple blood test can determine your sugar (glucose) levels.

What you can do now: Exercise and eat healthy; as you lose weight, your chances of developing type 2 diabetes often lessen.

4. Diet

Eating too many fattening foods poses a health risk—and leads to weight gain.

What you can do now: Trim down by 5 to 10 pounds—and keep going.

5. Testosterone

It's normal for levels of this hormone to dip with increasing age. But men who experience a loss of sex drive, decreased lean body mass and/or bone mineral density, fatigue, or depression might have low testosterone levels that could use a boost.

What you can do now: A quick, painless blood test can determine whether testosterone-replacement therapy would benefit you.

Updated December 2012