Well, who knows – but some university researchers are about to test the model.

A research project is underway to uncover just how the Tamworth male measures up and they’re out to test 150 hometown blokes on how they get to look like they do from what they eat.

Researcher Angelica Quatela is recruiting 150 men in Tamworth to join her program – and she’s ready to get out her tape measure to apply the test.

The male model quest is part of a wider look into Newcastle gents, too, and a journey to find the typical Aussie male.

She’s hoping to attract the male mob quickly so she can measure them up in Tamworth at the end of October and the beginning of November.

The University of Newcastle project expects to collect the data by the end of the year and publish its findings next year.

Basically they’re looking to study men’s eating habits and how they reflect in their body shapes, size and composition.

Mrs Quatela said they were looking for men of all types, from miners to mechanics, salesmen to students.

You need to be aged 18-44 to volunteer for a series of physical measurements that will help determine male health status and metabolic parameters.

It follows a similar study into women last year.

“Statistics suggest that a higher percentage of men are obese or overweight in Australia, with prevalence rates increasing.”

Mrs Quatela is a PhD student at the university under supervision of the project academics, and says this side of the gender test will involve some additional measurements for men.

“It won’t require a great deal of time; men just have to fill out a simple online questionnaire, then attend an 80-minute session at the Callaghan Campus or in Tamworth,” Mrs Quatela said. 

“The participants will receive the interpreted results of their body measurements, including fat percentages and muscle mass, body mass index, resting metabolic rate, blood pressure and a finger stick blood measurement of lipid and glucose levels.

“Generally these go beyond the measurements taken regularly by GPs so the men will have more extensive information about their current metabolism and health.”

The project also aims to explore contemporary breakfast tastes and habits.

“Breakfast is considered to be the most important meal of the day, but in reality there is not enough evidence to confirm that,” she said.

“We will be comparing data between breakfast eaters and breakfast skippers to check for differences in their metabolic and physical measurements.”

To be eligible, the typical Tamworth Aussie bloke cannot have had cosmetic surgery, not have insulin-dependent diabetes or a thyroid condition, nor suffer from claustrophobia.

If you think you fit the bill, contact Angelica Quatela on angelica. quatela@uon.edu.au or phone 0499 878 284.