A recent study by Aviva USA, an insurance and annuity company, and the Mayo Clinic suggests that stress caused by finances might cause men to gain too much weight.
Two-thirds of the men in the study report they are stressed, and the biggest contributor to that is finances. And men who are extremely stressed are five times more likely to put on a significant weight gain than unstressed men, the study shows.
Despite the stress, half of the men say they rarely discuss their finances with others and only one in five works with a financial advisor. The study of 2,000 adult men and women was designed to determine how stress and financial preparedness impact overall well-being.
Of the men reporting stress, 34% say their financial situation contributes the most to it, while family and relationships place a distant second at 17%.
"Our survey findings show there is a need for men to increase their awareness of their overall health as it relates to stress, weight and their financial preparedness," said Chris Jones, chief marketing officer for Aviva USA. "It's interesting that so few men work with a financial professional despite the unpredictability of financial markets and that so many avoid doctors even though methods to monitor and maintain your health are generally predictable."