TV star Chris Taylor and content creator Grime Gran, known off-screen as Margie, have taken to the streets to speak to Brits about nicknames for their body parts. From “footsies” to “trotters” and everything in between, Chris chatted with people in London to find out the unusual-and often hilarious-terms they use when referring to certain parts of their anatomy.
This entertaining chat was a part of recent research by Sure Whole Body Deodorant that found 40% of Brits are often ashamed by various body odours, especially beyond the underarms, regularly leading to self-consciousness.
Among some of the nicknames uncovered in the research were light-hearted terms like “tummy” for a stomach (used by 40% of Brits) and “food baby” (14%). When it comes to feet, those in the South were likely to call them “footsies” (30%), while Northerners opt for “trotters” (25%).
While almost half believe these pet names are purely for laughs, 30% adopt them to feel at ease and 10% use them to make their embarrassment.
“I’ve been in my fair share of sweaty situations – and it definitely helps to break the tension by using a nickname,” Chris said. “Having chatted to Londoners, it’s clear we all get embarrassed when we don’t feel fresh.”
Seven out of ten are concerned about body odour in areas other than their underarms, a worry dubbed ‘FOBO’ (Fear of Body Odour), and the research revealed that women were more likely to be concerned about this more than me.
But overall, most people avoid standing close to others, hugging loved ones, or becoming intimate with a partner when they’re worried about body odours.
Alice Duffill, representing Sure Whole Body Deodorant, which utilises odour adapt technology to combat various types of body odours, stated: “Our research shows Brits have a cheeky sense of humour when it comes to their own bodies.
“But these playful nicknames aren’t just for fun as they also help people speak more confidently about their bodies.
“Our research found that nearly half of Brits admit to fearing B.O. as a result of sweating, so we’re proud to launch a UK-first product to help Brits feel confident in their bodies.”