Why Some Men Develop Beer Bellies
June 11 -- It seems that everyone is focused on women's bodies, but when Good Morning America asked women what they really thought about men's bodies, they had plenty to say.
"Eeewww" and "Yuck," were among the responses, when ABCNEWS' Lara Spencer asked women what they thought of beer bellies. In her informal poll, 76 percent of women said that the worst place for a man to be fat is his belly. "Stomach! Sides, belly!" is the worst place for a man to be fat, said one rollerblader. Another 10 percent of women hated love handles the most.
"I think it's gross when it oozes over the pants and they don't wear a shirt," one pregnant woman said. "Why do they do that?"
A full 9 percent of women even said that obesity should be allowable grounds for divorce. But in truth, scale-conscious women have reason to be jealous. Forty-eight percent of men say that they are not self-conscious about their weight.
Men's Health magazine has partnered with GMA as it challenges America's overweight men to lose a million pounds in the next six months. (Go to www.mhmillion.com to sign up). As part of the series, GMA met three 20-something men to determine which of them is the most likely to develop a beer belly. Each appears fit, and exercises regularly, but one will have to worry more than the others about his expanding waistline. Matt Henzi of Seattle is 25 years old. He is 6 feet 1 inch tall, weighs 170 pounds, and has a 32-inch waist. Henzi works as a mountain guide and snowboard instructor, and he has a love of extreme sports. He drinks a case and a half of beer a week. His dad is fit. Since he stays in shape year round, Henzi says he does not think he will get a beer belly.
Charles Okoye, of New York City is a 23-year-old research analyst. He stands 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighs 160 pounds and has a 32-inch waist. He works hard during the week, and parties hard on weekends, usually drinking eight cocktails and 12 beers per week. He has no family history of obesity. Since he is naturally thin, Okoye says he does not think he will get a beer belly.
Popular Reads
ABC News Live