Japan's men tip scales while women slim down

TOKYO (Reuters Life!) - It's official: Japan is an unbalanced society where men now weigh more than they did 12 years ago while women are slimmer, a government survey showed.

An Economy Ministry survey of 7,000 adults in their 40s found that since the last poll conducted more than a decade ago, both sexes had grown taller by three centimeters (one inch) -- men to 1.7 meters (5.6 feet) and women to 1.6 meters.

But while women's average weight fell by a kilogram (two pounds) to 53 kg, men packed on 4 kg to an average 69 kg.

Males were also heading towards obesity, with their Body Mass Index one shy of 25, the level which indicates overweight, the survey showed.

A ministry official said the figures reflected that Japanese women were more conscious of the benefits of exercise while men "are playing less golf or baseball during their spare time".

Many Japanese men work long hours, often followed by corporate socializing.