The man in the mirror

Men are spending time and money on looking good - with 53 per cent admitting to beginning a diet since January 2008.

Two in five men said that they just wanted to get healthier, but one in ten males were trying to look good for their holidays or had a deadline.

However, just like women's dietary weaknesses, 47 per cent of men admitted to eating crisps regularly as a snack, often on the way to work, and 43 per cent said that they snacked on chocolatey foods.

Shaun Matisonn, chief executive officer at PruHealth, said: "It's encouraging to see a rise in the amount of men committing to getting fit and healthy.

"Obesity is on the rise among adults and children, so it's becoming increasingly important to make the effort to stay in shape. There may be temptations along the way, but there are easy ways to incorporate a little more exercise into your daily routine, such as getting off the tube or bus a stop earlier and walking, or cutting down on unhealthy snacks, which can also help save a bit of money."

It appears, however, that there is one way in which men could save even more money and weight-gain. The average man spends £1,144 each year on alcohol and post-drink snacks, with one in five regularly snacking on fried foods, such as kebabs and takeaways - more than double the amount of women who are tempted (8 per cent).

That £1,000 could offer credit-crunched households a way to afford their mortgage or rent payments, utility costs or home insurance premiums.

10/06/2008 17:21:58