The New York Times published a good article about “Why Obesity kills American Men”.
I certainly fall into that category. I got use to my doctor telling me “you should lose some weight” every year. Then I started avoided annual physicals because I didn’t want to hear it.
However, when I finally got a physical again at 52, I was shocked by the weight and right there decided to turn it around. After a year of calorie tracking, exercise and Zepbound the difference is mind blowing. I have lost over 100lbs (at 6’4″ with a high starting point, that’s not actually as much as it sounds) and exercise 5 times per week.
For me it was really a journey of self-discovery and change but totally understand th mentality of just avoiding the problem. In our society the public (and self-imposed) pressure on weight and appearance is fundamentally different for men and women. It seems both are profoundly unhealthy but for men the most common reaction is avoiding the problem until some catastrophic event (Diabetes, injury or ultimately a heart attack).
In today’s day and age there are some positive trends. We are more willing and open to talking about mental health issues in men. GLP-1 agonists can provide an extra boost supporting willpower, but alas I still hear people describing Zepbound as “cheating”.
We need to have a more open conversation about Health and Longevity and move on from silly macho perspectives that man have to suffer quietly and solve all problems by themselves. Help is available everywhere. If you don’t have friends you feel comfortable talking to (that’s true for me!), look for YouTube videos, reddit forums or articles that can teach the basics. If you are hesitant to go to the gym, especially in your current shape, (again me!), buy a couple of dumbbells and sign up for a virtual trainer. (My favorites are REP and Tital Fitness and the Future app (affiliate links).