I say this as a GP, but also as a man who has had to deal with it. Central weight can creep on quietly. It can happen during busy years, stressful years, family years, working years, or simply because habits change and the body changes with them.

Many of the conditions that affect men do not appear suddenly. Heart disease, type 2 diabetes, some cancers, frailty, poor mental health and loss of independence often develop over many years, and can often be prevented.