A new survey by Aviva USA, in collaboration with Mayo Clinic, finds the
primary factor contributing to stress for men is their financial
situation. The survey also reveals a strong correlation between high
levels of stress and dramatic weight gain among U.S. males.
Two out of three men report they are stressed, with financial situation
being the top contributing factor for a third of the men surveyed.
Family/relationships are a distant second-leading factor. In addition to
the linkage between stress and finances, 45 percent of men also reported
gaining weight over the past 10 years. Only 19 percent of men reported
losing weight during the same time period.
Four out of five men consider themselves to be in good to excellent
health, despite nearly half of them having gained weight over the past
10 years and two out of three saying they feel stressed.
"Studies have found that, on average, men tend to push off doctor visits
longer than women, often avoiding going to the doctor until a major
health problem arises," said Dr. Philip Hagen, medical director of Mayo
Clinic EmbodyHealth and vice chair of the Division of Preventive and
Occupational Medicine at Mayo Clinic. "In this survey, we're seeing some
of these same avoidance tendencies among male respondents. Men overall
described themselves as being in good health, while at the same time
reporting health risk factors, such as weight gain and high levels of
stress."
Aviva USA and Mayo Clinic encourage all Americans to visit their doctor
regularly and establish daily habits to improve their overall health and
well-being. That call to action for men is particularly timely in
support of National Men's Health Week, June 11-17.
The correlation between weight and stress is pronounced. Specifically,
men who indicate a large decrease in weight tend to be less affected by
stress. However, men who are extremely stressed are more than three
times as likely to have a dramatic increase in weight over the last 10
years compared to other male respondents. Moreover, men who are
extremely stressed are five times more likely to experience significant
weight gain compared to unstressed men.
Aviva USA surveyed more than 2,000 U.S. adults - men and women - on
their health habits and financial preparedness to uncover how these
factors impact their overall well-being. The survey was conducted by
Ipsos, a leading global survey-based market research company.
Additional key findings related to men are: