Playfully, the term has been described as “that gray zone between fit and fat” and the perfect look to make a woman feel comfortable in her own body. But what does the Dad Bod mean for the future of healthcare?

The description of the Dad Bod has nothing to do with being a father and much more to do with drinking too much beer and having a few too many servings of ramen noodles back in college. However, while the Dad Bod trend advocates for men to be happy in their own bodies, prolonged exposure to Dad Bod can lead to some negative side effects. Today, happy troops of 20- and 30-something aged males may be jumping with joy at the popularity of their soft exteriors, but soon they may be experiencing the drawbacks of too much of a good thing.

As the years and BMIs continue to increase, many men of the Dad Bod generation will begin to notice a steady onset of diet-related health problems, including obesity, secondary hypertension and diabetes. Obesity, which today affects 36% of Americans according to the CDC, will affect healthcare professionals as well as their patients. Since obesity was labeled as a disease by the AMA, it carries with it a new set of technical issues. Millions of dollars will need to be spent by healthcare providers on training staff on obesity-related issues. Not to mention, the size of patients will greatly change how care is provided. The need for larger beds, blood pressure cuffs and the limited mobility of patients will all affect how hospitals treat these individuals.

Now, I am not advocating that every man needs to be chiseled from stone, but if we men do not change the habits that got us to the glory that is the Dad Bod in the first place, our health will start to pay the price.

–Jake Alviene, Account Services Intern