Call for action for men’s health in the UK as 133,000 men die prematurely every year
More than 133,000 men die prematurely in the UK each year – 15 every hour – according to a report calling for urgent action to improve men’s health.
Research by the charity Movember has found that two in five men die prematurely, before the age of 75, often from entirely preventable health conditions.
Nearly two in three men – 64% – wait longer than a week before going to the doctor with symptoms, while 48% think it is normal to avoid health checks. Less than 40% take up the offer of an NHS health check for which they are eligible.
“The report’s findings should be a wake-up call to the unacceptable state of men’s health in the UK,” said Michelle Terry, CEO of Movember. “For too long, men’s health has been relegated to the sidelines of wider health conversations. Men’s health does not exist in a vacuum.”
The report found that men’s health in the UK is worse than in many other wealthy countries. In addition, people living in the most deprived areas of the UK are 81% more likely to die prematurely than those living in the wealthiest regions.
The research shows that a boy born in the UK in 2021 could live to be 78.7 years old. That is four years shorter than a girl, over three years shorter than boys in Switzerland, 2.6 years shorter than boys in Australia and 1.3 years shorter than boys in Ireland.
The report found that leading causes of death, such as lung cancer and heart disease, could be prevented by quitting smoking, drinking less alcohol, eating healthy foods and attending medical checkups and appointments.
William Roberts, chief executive of the Royal Society for Public Health, said: “Too many men are dying too young and too many men are suffering ill health from preventable conditions.
“It is vital that we address the underlying causes of poor men’s health. Men’s health affects us all and we must see it as a vital part of a healthy nation.”
In England and Wales, suicide is the leading cause of death among men aged 20 to 34. The suicide rate is generally three times higher among men than women.
The report found that men are less likely than women to have healthy lifestyles and are more likely to smoke, drink alcohol, use drugs, have high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
They also attend fewer health check-ups and GP check-ups, putting them at greater risk of late diagnosis of diseases such as cancer.
Terry urged ministers to launch a specific strategy for men’s health, saying tackling the top preventable diseases in men would not only save lives but could save the UK £9.4 billion a year.
The report found that men living in the Ladywood area of Birmingham are on average 3.5 times more likely to die prematurely (before the age of 75) than men living in Beckenham in Greater London.
Overall, men living in the 10 constituencies with the highest premature death rates are almost 3.5 times more likely to die prematurely than men living in the 10 constituencies with the lowest premature death rates.
Movember is also calling for the appointment of a national director for men’s health in England and a minister for men’s health in Scotland, similar to the appointments made for women’s health.
“If we want to reduce these tragic numbers and better support the men in our lives, real change is urgently needed,” Terry said. “We need to invest in education, reform the health system to meet the unique needs of all genders and have a dedicated men’s health strategy if we are to make real progress.”
Alastair Campbell, former No 10 communications director, co-host of The Rest is Politics podcast and mental health campaigner, backed the campaign, saying: “For too long, this country has gone backwards on policies that directly support men’s health.
“In the area of mental health specifically, while there has been real progress in attitudes and awareness, services and policies to address depression and anxiety are moving in the opposite direction.
“The new Labour government has a great opportunity to be bold and change the face of men’s health – and this starts with a men’s health strategy.”