The majority of Australian men are fat but only half know it, according to research showing many are in denial about their weight.

Obesity experts say men's acceptance of the beer belly and "bigger is better" approach to size are behind results of a national analysis showing perception problems with male weight.

More than 60% of men have a body mass index of more than 30, making them clinically overweight, yet only 36% perceive themselves to be.

Women are better at recognising their extra weight, and if affluent and well-educated they are likely to overestimate rather than underestimate their weight.

The study, using data from the National Health Survey of 34,000 adults, was published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health. Researchers Dr Katrina Giskes and Jessica Siu, from the Queensland University of Technology, said the findings proved the sexes interpreted weight differently.

Women who overestimated their weight were at risk of body image problems. And while believing they were lighter had "some psychological benefits" for men, they were less likely to respond to public health messages about weight because they did not think they had a problem.

"The risks associated with incorrect perceptions can't be ignored," the researchers said.

大多數澳大利亞男人肥胖，但是只有半數認識到這個問題，根據調查顯示出許多人都否認自己超重。

肥胖癥專家說，在全國性分析的結果背后，是男人們對啤酒肚的接受程度，以及“大一些更好一些”的對待尺寸的態度。這顯示對于男性體重的理解認識問題。

60% 以上的男人具有超過30的身體質量指數，使他們成為臨床上超重患者，但是只有36％ 的人認為自己確實有問題。

婦女們較好地認識到自己超超重，而且，如果富裕并受過良好教育，她們很可能高估而不是低估自己的體重。

這項研究采用了34,000名成年人的全國健康調查數據，發表在 澳大利亞和新西蘭公眾健康雜志 上。來自昆士蘭科技大學的研究者博士卡特里娜Giskes和杰西卡 Siu彬表示，調查證實不同的性別以不同的方式詮釋體重。

高估自己的體重婦女往往處于身體形象問題的風險中。同時相信她們更輕一些會對于男人有“一些心理好處”，她們不太可能回應有關體重的公共健康訊息，因為她們不認為她們有問題。

研究人員說，“不能忽視這些與不正確的認識相關的風險。”