REVEALED: The EXTRAORDINARY way men's bodies have changed in the last 50 years

In 1967 the average British male was 5ft 7.5 ins. tall, tipped the scales at 11st 8lbs and had a chest of 38 and waist of 34 inches.

He wore size seven shoes, had a collar size of 14.5 ins and was expected to live until he was 68.

But he has since ballooned all round, thanks partly to his beer belly, since those days in 1967 when we still basked in World Cup glory and now tops 5ft 10 ins and weighs 13st 3lbs.

He has a 43 inch chest, a 37 inch waist and his shirt has to have a 16 collar while he needs a size nine shoe rather than seven.

The good news however is that his average life expectancy is 81.

The contrasting figures, based on government body shape data, were put together by health and wellbeing company Forza Supplements

They reveal that James Bond actor Daniel Craig, 45, typifies the ultimate upper-body shape of the modern Mister Average. He weighs just over 13st and has a 43in chest although his waist is five inches slimmer.

Steve McQueen, his 1967 heart-throb rival and star of Bullitt and The Thomas Crown Affair was 5ft 7.5in and weighed just over 11st in his heyday.

Lee Smith, managing director of Forza Supplements which develops weight loss and fitness plans for individuals, said: “It is extraordinary how much Mr Average has changed in the last 50 years.

“He has gone from being what we might consider a bit of wimp these days into a taller, more rugged muscleman but with a noticeable beer belly.

“He is also a lot healthier than his 1967 counterpart – living 13 years longer. In 1967 53 per cent of men smoked while only 20 per cent do so today.

Now Mister Average is likely to exercise twice a week – consuming 2,500 calories a day compared to 2,000 calories back then.

“He is far more conscious of his body image. Around 42 per cent of British men lift weights at least once a month these days compared to just two per cent in the 60s.”

He added: “Whereas British men are far fitter than they were they are also far fatter, because they are richer and they are eating and drinking far more than they used to.

“Britain has the highest obesity levels in Western Europe – ahead of France, Germany and Spain. One in four British men is obese, prompting fears that we are becoming the ‘fat man of Europe’.

“Obesity levels have trebled in the last 50 years and on current estimates, more than half the population could be obese by 2050. 

“The challenge for the next 50 years is how to ensure the positive benefits in public health are not destroyed by our love of food and drink.”

In 1967 West Ham and England captain Bobby Moore was the UK’s top paid footballer on £10,000 a year, a pint of beer cost 10p and a gallon of petrol 26p.The average house cost £3,620 and a new car £950.

Now Manchester United’s Paul Pogba gets £15 million a year, a pint of beer costs £3.60 and a gallon of petrol £3.51. The average house costs £272,000 and a new car £28,973.