Do You Pass The Junk Test?

Convinced you’re the perfect weight? You’re not alone—and you might be wrong. According to a recent Gallup poll of 1005 Americans, 60 percent of people say their weight is about right. The problem? Well, 69.2 percent of adults are either overweight or obese.

The numbers don't add up because our idea of what’s healthy has changed. In 1991, guys nationwide thought the ideal man’s weight was a slim 171 pounds. Today, that number is up to 185 pounds. We’ve upped our idea of what’s a healthy weight as we’ve packed on the pounds. “It’s a case of denial, ignorance is bliss, and thinking it’s everyone’s problem but my own,” says David L. Katz, M.D., an associate professor of public health at Yale University and a Men's Health weight-loss advisor.

What’s even worse: People aren’t doing anything about it. Only 25 percent of Americans are seriously trying to lose weight, while nearly 70 percent of the population should be on a diet, according to the Gallup poll.

Too often, the problem hits you in the face too late—after you develop diabetes or have a heart attack, Dr. Katz says. But you don’t need a scale (or even a mirror) to see if you have a problem. You can do it right now if you take off your pants.

To take "The Junk Test," just stand up and look down. Can’t see your penis because your belly’s in the way? Then it's time to get serious about your weight. According to a survey of 1,000 British men, those who can’t see their junk are five times more likely to develop type two diabetes, three times more likely to suffer from colon cancer, and 2.5 times more likely to have high blood pressure.

Okay, so weight loss doesn’t happen overnight, but the easiest way to start making changes today is to set a long-term goal, and tell your friends about it. According to a recent study in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, people who join a dieting support group—like the Men’s Health Belly Off! Club—are 42 percent more likely to maintain weight loss than people who go at it alone.

If you liked this story, you’ll love these:

• How a Fat Nation Can Slim Down
• 20 Reasons to Lose 20 Pounds
• “I Hate Fat People”

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