One in three men in the East Midlands is worried that drinking too much alcohol will make them pile on the pounds according to a new survey for the Know Your Limits campaign published today.
Released during Men’s Health Week, the statistics show that watching the waistline is no longer only the preserve of women, with more than 35% of men in the East Midlands claiming they would reduce their drinking to cut down on the number of calories they consume.
Saving money was also a big incentive for drinking less with 41% saying they would cut back to save cash.
The YouGov survey of male drinkers over 18 in the East Midlands also showed:
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Nearly one in four (23%) are worried about getting a beer belly
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One in ten (10%) think their boozing is affecting their appearance
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One in ten (10%) worry that excessive drinking is affecting their sexual performance
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One in five (20%) are worried their drinking will lead to man boobs
The NHS recommends men do not regularly drink more than 3-4 units a day - equivalent to less than two pints of normal strength beer. According to the Office of National Statistics, an estimated 6.3 million men in England regularly drink above these limits*.
The YouGov survey revealed one in three East Midlands men (33%) are worried booze is risking their long-term health, and nearly one in four (24%) already feel it is affecting their general health and wellbeing.
But awareness of the specific health risks is generally worse among men than women. While most men (73%) were aware of the increased risk of liver disease associated with drinking above the recommended limits, 84% didn’t know about the link with mouth cancer, 87% were equally unaware of the risk of throat cancer, and 76% were blind to the increased risk of stroke.
Encouragingly, when told about these risks, more than a fifth (22%) said it made them keener to cut down.
David Walker, Director of Public Health for NHS East Midlands said: “Many of us like to have the occasional drink. But whether it’s a few drinks after work, a couple of glasses with dinner, or a few cans in front of the TV, research shows that there’s a proven link between regular drinking and up to 60 different medical conditions. It is good to see that men are looking at their alcohol intake and are considering cutting down not only for the sake of their appearance but also for their long-term health.”
Public Health Minister, Gillian Merron said: "Our survey shows that more and more men are worried about alcohol ruining their looks. It is encouraging that they are also thinking about their health. Men who drink too much are at risk of conditions such as liver disease and stroke, as well as getting out of shape.
"Unfortunately, the longer-term effect drinking too much can have on your health is harder to spot until it’s too late.
"Our Know Your Limits campaign arms people with the facts about how many units are in their favourite drinks, to help them keep a check on how much they drink each day."
In 2007/08, there were more than 863,000 alcohol-related hospital admissions, an increase of 69% since 2002/03. Of these, 62% were for men.
Fewer than a third of men (28%) in the East Midlands reported keeping track of their units. But a drinks calculator does the maths for you, helping those who drink alcohol stick within their limits.
