In today’s world, it’s no longer just women who are overawed by the images of physical perfection they see in advertisements and lifestyle magazines. Even buffed men are embarrassed by their bodies. 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.

Half of the 3,000 British men surveyed by the scales manufacturer Tanita described themselves as fat, and one in 10 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, 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. That notion is 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.”