New research by the Somerset and Wessex Eating Disorders Association (SWEDA) has shown that one in three Somerset men worry too much about their body shape and fitness.

The new data comes as Somerset charity SWEDA is working to highlight Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2023, which runs from February 27 to March 5.

SWEDA's Men, Boys and Body Image Survey 2023 found that 25% of individuals who identify as having an eating disorder are male, and that many more struggle their diet and body image.

The survey of 207 men and boys recorded 32% of respondents worried ‘all or much of the time’ about how they looked. 18% of respondents said that fitness influencers on social media heavily affected their views on diet and body shape.

In their report SWEDA said: "it is not unusual for boys and men to have preoccupations and anxiety around how they look, their body shape and how they use exercise and food to control these things.

"Most participants admit that they do have concerns about this at least some of the time. This is in line with other findings; we are nearly all concerned with these things to a greater or lesser degree.It also shows that there is a smaller, although significant, number of men and boys for whom these preoccupations verge on all-consuming, taking up much of their thoughts and time."

We know that this kind of anxiety can induce serious mental health problems in people of any age which can include body dysmorphia and full-blown eating disorders. Our results indicate this could be anywhere between 10-30%."

The study has highlighted Eating Disorders Awareness Week, which aims to fight misconceptions around anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder.