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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Find DH physically unattractive

202 replies

Scillygirlz · 05/07/2025 09:28

My DH is a great guy. Funny, kind, hard working, good co-parent etc. But over the last few years he has really let himself physically. He was slim, now he is obese. He never exercises. He just looks a state.

He used to care about his appearance, now he is a scruff bag. Yesterday for example he went out in a dirty old tshirt which he often sleeps in, then kept it on and slept in it. He is still in it now.

All of these things are his prerogative and I’d never tell another person to conform to my standards in that way. He has a stressful job and I think he just can’t be arsed / hasn’t got the time or energy to worry about how he looks. But I just no longer find him physically attractive. I’m actually pretty repulsed by him.

I’m not asking him to be Mr Stylish. Just to lose a bit of weight and wear clothes than don’t make him look like a tramp.

What would you do? I can’t just ‘leave’ for many reasons. I feel that talking to him would cause a lot of upset. But our marriage is broken because of this. We haven’t had sex in a long time because I just don’t fancy him at all. Even a hug or a kiss makes me die inside a bit.

OP posts:
Tol85 · 05/07/2025 10:22

He sounds depressed. Yeah you need to speak to him.

LeavesTrees · 05/07/2025 10:27

Tol85 · 05/07/2025 10:22

He sounds depressed. Yeah you need to speak to him.

I agree.

The t-shirt situation would point to that and I think most would find it unacceptable.

In terms of weight though, I think you should also ask yourself if you look exactly the same as when he met you - weight, hair, wrinkles etc.

frozendaisy · 05/07/2025 10:44

Just talk to him
that’s what a marriage is
you can address these things nicely
concerned about his health state of mind you want your energetic clean honey back
life is for living not sobbing out in t-shirts
etc etc

supercali77 · 05/07/2025 10:47

Why can't you leave? Would you leave if you could? Is it possible he's depressed?

Scillygirlz · 05/07/2025 10:54

I couldn’t leave because it would be financially ruinous, and possibly more damaging to the kids than the current situation.

Talking to him should be possible but isn’t. I would be unable to find words which wouldn’t make him retreat into himself upset and tearful. Communication is not our strong point when it comes to matters of disagreement (which I know is problematic in itself but see above re leaving him).

He might be depressed at times but I don’t think he is diagnosably suffering from depression. He has friends, does activities, does everything required of him round the house, doesn’t mope.

As for my appearance - I am actually alright. I weigh less than I did when we married, exercise more and generally look after myself.

OP posts:
cloudyblueglass · 05/07/2025 10:58

It’s sounds like he’s lost himself. I can empathise.

I don’t know what the answer is - most will say a prescription. Might be worth a try. But a hard look at your lives and a re-evaluation and shifting priorities nigh be a better tonic to find some enjoyment in life again.

It’s understandable that you don’t want to sleep with someone you don’t find attractive.

yeesh · 05/07/2025 10:58

If you don’t want to talk to him and you don’t want to leave him, I’m not sure what else there is to say?

Scillygirlz · 05/07/2025 10:59

yeesh · 05/07/2025 10:58

If you don’t want to talk to him and you don’t want to leave him, I’m not sure what else there is to say?

I think I probably do want to leave him. But I can’t afford to and it might fuck up the kids.

OP posts:
cloudyblueglass · 05/07/2025 11:00

Scillygirlz · 05/07/2025 10:54

I couldn’t leave because it would be financially ruinous, and possibly more damaging to the kids than the current situation.

Talking to him should be possible but isn’t. I would be unable to find words which wouldn’t make him retreat into himself upset and tearful. Communication is not our strong point when it comes to matters of disagreement (which I know is problematic in itself but see above re leaving him).

He might be depressed at times but I don’t think he is diagnosably suffering from depression. He has friends, does activities, does everything required of him round the house, doesn’t mope.

As for my appearance - I am actually alright. I weigh less than I did when we married, exercise more and generally look after myself.

You’ve got a pretty narrow idea of what depression looks like. Many horribly depressed people do the things you describe.

Noshadelamp · 05/07/2025 11:04

Are where any changes you can do to help him lose weight eg if he eats loads of snacks in the house and you're doing the food shopping, stop buying the snacks

If/when you cook, give smaller portions

Encourage a family hobby such as walking, swimming, hiking altogether on the weekends

I know it's not your responsibility but sometimes we need a bit of a boost or support to kickstart internal motivation.

But ultimately he needs to want to make those changes himself.

HistoricalOrchard · 05/07/2025 11:05

He sounds like this is a time when he needs a hug and a kiss. He must be aware of the distance between you both and it’s probably making this worse.
Don’t get me wrong - no one should be expected to kiss and hug someone they don’t want to and no one can change anyone so I’m saying you should be doing that.
The question is do you love him at all?
Can you support him?
Sometimes people need help to get going. If that was my dh, I’d be telling him that he looks a state, he has clean t shirts in his closet and he needs to get one.
Does he shower?
Not caring about appearance is often a downwards spiral into further issues with mental health.

It’s your right to stay or leave or even care about him but it sounds like he needs some help.

KPPlumbing · 05/07/2025 11:05

"All of these things are his prerogative and I’d never tell another person to conform to my standards in that way."

Maybe I'm a bit brutal, but I don't understand this way of thinking. Ive said to my husband in the past that I put so much work in to keeping in shape and looking after my health, and I expect him to put in a reasonable amount of effort too, because I don't want to be a switched on, in shape, energetic 50 year old in 10 years time, married to someone tired and out of shape, in poor health, who can't keep up with me 🤷🏼‍♀️

I would also just say "You're making me feel ill wearing that dirty tshirt out in public and you look like a slob. Don't you care if I find you attractive or not?"

Like I say, I'm brutal. I think very clear, straightforward communication works with a lot of men though.

HistoricalOrchard · 05/07/2025 11:09

If you can’t speak to him, write him a message. It doesn’t matter if he gets tearful. It might be a good thing if he recognises that all this is making him miserable and he needs to change.
Be gentle in your message and offer him support.

Shelly1973ish · 05/07/2025 11:10

LeavesTrees · 05/07/2025 10:27

I agree.

The t-shirt situation would point to that and I think most would find it unacceptable.

In terms of weight though, I think you should also ask yourself if you look exactly the same as when he met you - weight, hair, wrinkles etc.

Gaining weight is a consequence of choices.
Wrinkles and hair changes are age related.

Noshadelamp · 05/07/2025 11:10

I also agree with pp that you can say something without being hurtful eg
Breezily say
"why are you still wearing that tatty t shirt"
Or
"Are you going out in that scruffy t shirt you've been wearing to bed? "

He might say something like "I don't care, it's comfortable "

And you can tell him that he used to care, and he's got other clean t shirts just as comfortable.

Don't push it but bringing awareness to it might give him a jolt, something to think about.

Even if he sulks or gets upset as his initial reaction, it's not a reason to say nothing.
Obviously as long as he's not getting abusive or aggressive.

Nsky62 · 05/07/2025 11:20

Write a kind note, sometimes easier on paper

ButtCheeks · 05/07/2025 11:24

You need to talk to him! Or write him a letter…?
So what if he gets upset? Even if he does, surely he has enough respect for you (and hopefully himself) to listen to you, mull it over and make some changes?
If you don’t want to leave, you have to have uncomfortable conversations with your partner.

Costantlyharried642 · 05/07/2025 11:31

Your dh sounds like such a lovely person op. Maybe he has taken too much on? Can you help lighten his load a little by taking on some more of his domestic chores? (Which is what I would say to a man who was complaining about his wife putting on weight and not taking care of herself.) How much time does he get to rest and de-stress? Do you each get the same time to decompress?

Also, what is his diet and sleep quality like? Does he get time to exercise? Helping him to focus on those three things might be beneficial?

Could you very gently mention that you are concerned about his health and perhaps you could agree on a healthy eating plan together?

You are quite wrong about depression by the way way. It is perfectly possible to be going to work and completing all of your activities while feeling deep inward despair and bleakness.

High-functioning depression, also known as "functioning depression," describes individuals who experience symptoms of depression but are still able to maintain their daily routines and responsibilities, such as working and managing relationships. While they may appear to be coping well externally, they may be struggling with significant emotional distress and negative feelings internally. It's not an official diagnosis in the DSM-5, but it's a term used to describe this specific experience of depression.

You should encourage him to seek treatment.
That would be my first step, As depression and stress can cause you to have high cortisol levels which can make it harder to lose weight.

In fact, why aren’t you posting on here about your difficulties in communication? Your sex life won’t improve unless you can talk to one another. Maybe he is depressed about your relationship as you do sound quite cold op. It sounds as if there is far more to this than you have posted. . Problems in the bedroom are usually a symptom of some other fundamental difficulty in a marriage.

Ultimately, he needs to feel good about himself and project confidence in order for you to find him attractive. So be careful not to crush his self esteem further when addressing this. The best way would be to frame it in terms of concern for his physical and mental health.

I hope that doesn’t sound too harsh op. It’s far from easy trying to talk to someone who withdraws and becomes upset and tearful and won’t take action to help themselves. It sounds like he needs an urgent trip to the gp and a therapist and maybe you need marriage counselling when he is feeling more like himself.

As a start, maybe you could offer to go out in the sunshine and walk with him every day as walking has been proven to be effective for mild depression, but he might need meds to really resolve it. Walking can’t harm him anyway.

Whatever you do, don’t stay with him just for the financial stability op, That would be soul-destroying for both of you. if there is no love or kindness left between you, then do the decent thing and make a clean break.

Branleuse · 05/07/2025 11:32

If you don't want to split up then you need to make sure he knows that its become an issue and you don't want him to say he was blindsided later on. That you just want him clean and looking like he gives a shit

Cadenza12 · 05/07/2025 11:38

No 2 ways about it, you must speak to him. Find out what's going on, how you can help him. It does sound like he could be depressed. What's a difficult conversation compared with what you are feeling now?

Chamomileteaplease · 05/07/2025 11:38

I would be unable to find words which wouldn’t make him retreat into himself upset and tearful.

He will retreat a lot more into himself and be a lot more tearful if you leave him!

Bite the bullet. As a PP said, it is your communication which is the major problem here. Have you considered couples counselling so that you can have support addressing these issues and it would be a safe space for him to offload if he is feeling low.

Whichever way you do it, at least let him know how it is making you feel so that he has the chance to make improvements. If he still doesn't then you will know that you tried.

SayLaveee · 05/07/2025 11:39

I think its a bit sick to stay with a man who disgusts you because you want a nice lifestyle but that's just me

Ilovegoldies · 05/07/2025 11:40

I would be upset if my husband became obese (not through illness) from poor lifestyle choices. I love him I don't want him to have health problems.

pikkumyy77 · 05/07/2025 11:45

I agree with everyone here—even if you are just planning to stay for selfish reasons and the children you owe it to everyone involved to try something to help your dh get out of this funk.

Communication isn’t your strong suit? Well read a book or just hold your nose and jump. Try reading “How to talk so kids will listen/how to listen so kids will talk.” That is a golden oldie and a mine of good information about how to create open communication with others. You can look up “non violent communication” too. I would also suggest things like “games people play” and Harriet Lerner’s The Dance of Intimacy to help you get past this stuck feeling.

Sit him down and say “I love you and I am concerned for you. You seem to have forgotten how to take care of yourself. Showering, wearing fresh clothes, paying attention to your hygiene are all things that used to matter to you. They matter to me, too. I want to see you looking clean and confident and happy! What needs to change at work or at home so you can Go back to that happy, confident, person?”

Scillygirlz · 05/07/2025 11:47

He is clean and he does shower. Yesterday he wore a dirty old tshirt and then slept in it. That’s the worst it’s ever got.

OP posts:
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