THE traditional male solution to an expanding waistline after the overindulgence of Christmas and New Year is to have their trousers let out a few more inches.

But nowadays, it seems, most men are taking a more active approach.

One study has found almost one in five isn't happy with his weight, with six out of ten admitting there is room for improvement, which could explain why more men are now joining weekly slimming groups.

Richard Jones, of Birchgrove, is just one of them. The father- of-two joined Weight Watchers in January 2011 and has so far managed to lose seven stone.

As well as wanting to look and feel better, he was concerned about his health so decided to join his wife on the plan.

"After Christmas 2010, I felt fat and unhealthy and I didn't feel comfortable with the size I was," he says.

"I thought it was time for a change and Weight Watchers was the wake up call I needed.

"I was a 42 in waist and was weighing 20stone 12lbs. I had been diabetic for eight years which I assume was down to being overweight and I was on tablets for high blood pressure and cholesterol. But I was determined to do something about it."

Richard, 38, of Heol Dulais, says he can understand why men are beginning to take more control of their weight.

"I don't think it is an issue anymore for men to take pride in their appearance," he says.

"But I joined mainly for my health. I know a few of the men in work have joined Weight Watchers online as well so it's not just something for women.

"Now I am down to a size 34 in waist, have lost seven stone and I am a lot fitter than I was. I am hoping to lose another stone to stone and a half. I go running four to five times a week, before even a walk was too much!

"But more importantly the doctor has reduced the number of tablets I need to take and I may be able to come off them altogether soon. Plus I am no longer on insulin for my diabetes which is great."

Julie Littlewood, a Weight Watchers instructor in Gorseinon and Loughor, says the number of men coming to her classes was now rising.

She adds: "There isn't the embarrassment there once was of attending a class. I get families and couples coming together which can be easier. Men are just as conscious about their health as women and are very keen.

"The men who attend my class are very focussed and I think the barriers of men attending slimming classes have now started to break down."

Julie's Weight Watcher colleague, Helen Davies, agrees: "This year I have had more men join my classes than ever before. My husband helps out in the class so the men can chat to him. Once one man comes along it has a knock-on effect and it encourages other men to want to join. "

The LC in Swansea has more male than female members. Health and Fitness manager, Dean Owens, says: "It's still the case that most people assume that it's women rather than men who have body hang-ups and insecurities about appearance, but this assumption is just that.

"But we find that many men as well as women worry about how their body looks and most people would change areas if they could, it just tends to be that the areas of concern are different between men and women.

"Being aware of body image and having insecurities about the way you look isn't gender specific, and as a result we see many men who have hang ups about their body.

"Men, just like women are subjected to images of what is perceived to be the norm. As celebrity culture continues to grow and images of super fit and defined muscular bodies are all around us, it's no surprise that the pressure to conform can have a negative and unrealistic impact on many people's body image.

"As a result, more and more men are approaching us to get what we call the 'beach muscle' look which mirrors images of aspirational figures with toned stomachs, chests and arms. Also, with the health and fitness regimes of today's rugby players far more intensive than years ago we have found many men aspiring to gain the same physical definition as these role models."

Enterprise Zone Life Health and Fitness Club instructor Allan Powell adds: "Gym membership is no longer considered a luxury but an affordable and necessary part of our daily lives."