Men with male GPs ‘more likely to receive weight loss advice’

Obese men who have male GPs are more likely to receive weight loss counselling than obese women seeing female physicians, a study has shown.

Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania and Johns Hopkins University found that male patients were about 60 per cent more likely to receive dietary advice from male doctors than female patients with female doctors.

They also had about a 76 per cent higher chance of getting exercise counselling.

Dr Octavia Pickett-Blakely, of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, said: “Perhaps societal norms linking physical fitness to masculinity leads male physicians to view obese men as more receptive to weight-related counselling and contributes to open dialogue about weight in male gender-concordant relationships.”

The study has been published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Earlier this month, health and wellbeing consultant Hermie Hogg suggested that employers should help members of their staff to lose weight.

Have you sought weight loss advice from your doctor?