Some men 'too ashamed to strip before partners'

LONDON: In today's world, it's no longer just women who're overawed by the images of physical perfection they see in advertisements and lifestyle magazines.

Even buffed men are embarrassed by their bodies. In fact, some of them feel so ashamed that they become reluctant to strip off in front of their partner, researchers in Britain have found.

The researchers have carried out a survey which revealed that a quarter of men are so embarrassed by their bodies that they are reluctant to be naked in front of their partner, the 'Daily Mail' reported on Monday.

Half of the 3,000 British men surveyed by the scales manufacturer Tanita described themselves as fat, and one in ten said he would consider having cosmetic surgery to remove his love-handles.

Some 72 per cent said the gym-honed slender bodies on show in the media made them feel insecure about their own less-than-perfect physiques.

Brenda Mortimore, the President of the Association of Fitness Instructors, said, "For a while now women have been under the impression that the 'perfect' look involves having a figure like a stick insect."

"It seems that notion is now spreading to men too. I would suggest lots of guys aren't happy with how they look, when in fact they probably look fine. There is too much pressure on men to look perfect now."

The survey also revealed that many men have come up with an easy solution to their body image worries, lying. One in five admitted fibbing about weight or waist size.