17/06/2017
We're in the middle of Men's Health Week here in the UK – an initiative to try and address the poor state of men and boys health compared against the health of women. According to the older people's newspaper The Mature Times, which is published nationwide from North Somerset, the focus this year is on men's struggle with weight. The organisers explained:
“Belly fat is a problem because it lurks not just beneath the surface but also gets down deep and surrounds your vital organs. Regardless of your overall weight, a large amount of belly fat increases your risk of: Cardiovascular disease, Insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes and Colorectal cancer.”
The gay and bisexual men's scene is usually portrayed as more health conscious than that of heterosexual men, but this is a simplified picture. There are subsets of gay men who regularly go to the gym, but there also those who celebrate larger sizes, by way of the bear subculture. Want to find out more about the different issues in the body size debate as its affects the LGBT and feminist communities? Then visit the contrasting websites we have linked to via our own, or check out the feminist classic “Fat is a Feminist Issue” by psychologist Susie Orbach, now back in print and available at Waterstones and Foyles in Bristol, and Gothic Image in Glastonbury.
https://www.menshealthforum.org.uk/mhw
https://thebodyisnotanapology.com/
