Think you’re more health conscious than the men in your life? You might be surprised, discovers Karen Fittall.
Research proves women are more health aware than men. Examples? We’re 38 per cent more likely to investigate the ingredients in food and are significantly more conscientious about visiting our GPs for regular check-ups. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t learn something from the opposite sex.
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From the way they sit behind the wheel to how they regard what they see in the mirror and how much – or little – they do on the way to work, here are eight lessons we should learn from the men in our lives.
Lean back when you’re driving
Research says: men have better posture than women when they’re driving a car.
It matters because: a University of Virginia study discovered how incorrect posture in the driver’s seat is one reason why women are 47 per cent more likely than men to sustain severe injuries in a car accident.
Adopt it by: using the car seat as it was intended. The researchers agree you can’t change the fact that women are typically shorter than men and have to sit closer to the steering wheel. However, they advise against leaning forward. Instead make sure your back and neck stay firmly against the seat and headrest at all times.
Relax on your trip to work
RESEARCH SAYS: men don’t let their daily commute get to them.
IT MATTERS BECAUSE: a UK study found that women are highly stressed by their trips to and from work, regardless of whether they drive or catch public transport. The most at risk’ women were those with pre-school children but most were affected to some extent.
ADOPT IT BY: stopping your commute turning into a multi-tasking exercise. “We know that women, especially those with children, are more likely to add daily errands to their commute such as food shopping and dropping-off and picking-up children from childcare,” says study author Professor Jennifer Roberts, from the University of Sheffield. “The time constraints and the reduced flexibility that comes with them make commuting stressful in a way it wouldn’t otherwise.”
Like what you see in the mirror
Research says: 31 percent of healthy-weight women think they’re overweight, a misconception that only strikes five per cent of men. And compared to 29 percent of men, 62 percent of us feel pressured to have a more attractive body.
It matters because: negative body image impacts everything from careers to relationships, with 36 per cent of women turning down sex because they feel too body conscious. Research even shows 30 percent of us would trade one year of life to achieve an ideal body weight and shape.
Adopt it by: focusing on what your body can do rather than how it looks. Regular exercise improves body image substantially, regardless of whether or not your fitness increases, research from the University of Florida shows.
Stop living in the past
RESEARCH SAYS: men are far less likely than women to assume things will go wrong based on a similar experience in the past that turned out badly.
IT MATTERS BECAUSE: a tendency to worry about the future due to past events may be a reason why women are more at risk of anxiety, according to University of California researchers. In any one year, one in six women experience anxiety disorders compared to one in 10 men, national depression initiative beyondblue reports.
ADOPT IT BY: putting a positive spin on past events. So says a 2011 US study that found people who view the past through rose-coloured glasses are generally happier. “We found highly extroverted people are happier because they tend to hold a positive, nostalgic view of the past and are less likely to have negative thoughts and regrets,” says the study’s Co-author Ryan Howell. “This is good news because although it may be difficult to change your personality, you may be able to alter your view of time and boost your happiness.”
Don’t eat because you’re sad
RESEARCH SAYS: men see food as fuel while women are more likely to link food and emotions, with a University of Texas study finding that 70 per cent of emotional eaters are women.
IT MATTERS BECAUSE: people who eat to treat emotions choose high-fat, high-sugar foods. It’s one reason why emotional eaters lose the least amount of weight on weight-loss programs, reveals research at the US’s Brown University.
ADOPT IT BY:finding other ways to deal with your emotions. Recognise which emotions are triggering your cravings using a food diary, then add some other coping mechanisms so you’ve got things to turn to other than food, suggests psychologist Dr Leah Brennan. A simple but effective mechanism? A 15-minute walk, which UK scientists found helped to reduce chocolate cravings.
Get sweaty for the right reason
RESEARCH SAYS: women are more likely to exercise and lose weight to change how they look, while men are usually inspired by a health-related goal.
IT MATTERS BECAUSE: research shows if you drop weight for your health you’ll increase your chances of keeping it off. A US study found that while body-shape goals are what motivate 44 percent of women to be physically active, they wind up doing 40 per cent less exercise than women who work out for a nonappearance-related reason.
ADOPT IT BY: focusing on a health-related side effect of exercise that you’ll enjoy immediately. University of Michigan researchers say that compared to women who work out to lower disease risk, women who exercise to achieve an instant health benefit – like the fact that it’ll help you sleep better tonight – are more likely to be physically active in the long term.
Don’t take stress to bed
RESEARCH SAYS: men are less likely than us to let job and family-related stress interfere with sleep. The result, according to University of Cincinnati researchers, is that women regularly get less shut-eye than men.
IT MATTERS BECAUSE: sleep deprivation increases your risk of weight gain by influencing hunger hormone levels, and University of Warwick scientists say it’s also particularly risky for women’s heart health. Their research showed that while a man’s risk of high blood pressure remained the same regardless of how little he slept, women’s risk doubled if they got five rather than seven hours of sleep each night.
ADOPT IT BY: learning to handle stress more effectively. Psychologist Dr Sarah Edelman suggests making a conscious decision to not worry about things you can’t change and remembering it’s how we perceive and react to external events, rather than the event itself, that causes us to feel stressed. “So while we may not be able to change other people or our life circumstances, we can change the way we perceive them and avoid upsetting ourselves unnecessarily.”
Wear flat shoes
Research says: the plain fact is men drew the long straw by not having high heels in their wardrobes.
It matters because: in 2010 US researchers added weight to the argument that high heels aren’t healthy, saying regular use significantly increases women’s risk of joint degeneration and knee osteoarthritis. At the same time, a European study confirmed that women who usually wear high heels have shorter calf muscles and stiff tendons, which makes wearing flat shoes painful.
Adopt it: by making stilettos a sometimes-only fashion statement, say the US scientists, who also suggest choosing lower heels wherever possible.
