DAY 115: What’s your Body Shape?

Are you a nacho, a tomato or a string bean? Convention has it that women worry most about their bodies. Men, however, are just as concerned, suffering the same lack of confidence about their shape – be it a tomato, brick, snowman or nacho. New research reveals the 7 different shapes of modern man.

THE SEVEN SHAPES OF MAN

PEAR

A little bit larger around the middle

CUCUMBER 

Straight up and down with no extra weight

TOMATO 

Slightly chubby all over

BRICK 

Broad all over

NACHO 

Broad shoulders and slim waistline

STRING BEAN 

Very skinny and lean

SNOWMAN 

Rounded around the stomach and chest creating a figure of eight like shape

Olympic swimmer Tom Daley's (below) toned torso shows off the triangular 'nacho', with his broad shoulders and slim waist. Although the look is popular with women, only 5 per cent of men thought they lived up to this muscular ideal.

The biggest group – 49 per cent – admitted being a 'pear' like comedian Michael McIntyre (below), carrying a little extra round their middle.

The most coveted shape was a 'cucumber', the lean figure sported by former England cricket captain Andrew Flintoff (below). Although 46 per cent wanted this, only 15 per cent managed it.

The 'brick' or generally broad all over figure similar to pop star Robbie Williams (below) applied to 9 per cent of the 1,500 men quizzed by menswear retailer Jacamo.

On the chubby side were the one in ten who confessed to being a 'tomato' like television presenter Eamonn Holmes (below).

Professor Brendan Gough, a body image expert at Leeds Metropolitan University, said that media portrayals of men are making the average man feel insecure about his looks.

Fewer than 5 per cent were at the extremes of the 'snowman' – with the rounded chest and belly of  Robbie Coltrane (below left) – or the skinny physique of a 'string bean' like cycling champion Bradley Wiggins (below right).

Few of the men surveyed were happy with their shape, with almost half admitting they needed to lose weight. In fact, almost three-quarters hated their body, proving that it is not just women who feel self-conscious about their looks.

Professor Brendan Gough, a psychologist at Leeds Metropolitan University, said modern men care much more about their appearance than previous generations.

“We live in a world where appearance is very important for guys – in work, relationships and well-being,” he added. “Few live up to the models on magazine covers, but more are moisturising, tanning and even wearing make-up. When men look good, they feel good.”

The survey found that men felt at their physical best aged 28. But, as they aged, they lost confidence and some even suffered depression about the way they looked. Many felt pressure from magazines to look good but most admitted poor diets and lack of exercise stopped them having a better body.

Weight for me tomorrow. Paul

Paul Lambis is the author of “Where is Home?” – A journey of hilarious contrasts. 
For more information on Paul Lambis, and to order his book online,
visit www.paul-lambis.com