In Australia the percentage of men who are overweight or obese is on the rise – in 1995 it was 64% of the male population, and in 2007-08 it was 68%. And it’s a fact - men have a higher risk of some lifestyle-related diseases than women and on average, in New Zealand men die five years younger than women. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Australia and NZ – claiming twice as many men, as women. However, adopting healthy lifestyle habits such as eating a wide variety of healthy foods each day, being more physically active and maintaining a healthy body weight, can help to keep men healthy.
While men may be less concerned about their health than women, the evidence shows that like New Zealand men, the percentage of men in Australia suffering from lifestyle-related and other health conditions outweighs the percentages for women. Key health concerns for men include:
High Blood pressure: While the findings from the NZ Portrait of Health study show no difference between the prevalence of taking medication for high blood pressure between men and women, high blood pressure is still an issue of key importance for men. It affects almost 1 in 2 men, over the age of 65 years. High blood pressure is an important risk factor for cardio-vascular disease (CVD) but it can be modified through weight loss, improved diet, reduced salt intake, reduced alcohol consumption and increased physical activity. In Australia more men than women suffer from angina, heart disease and stroke, all of which can be classified as forms of CVD.
High cholesterol: High cholesterol is also an important risk factor for CVD but like high blood pressure it can be modified. Cholesterol levels can be reduced through improvements to the diet, and increased physical activity.
Obesity and overweight: A healthy body weight and shape is increasingly recognised as important for good health and wellbeing, with obese adults being at greater risk of short-term and long-term health consequences. The latest Australian data shows that the proportion of males classified as overweight or obese has risen from 64% in 1995 to 68% in 2007-08. More adult males (68%) were overweight or obese than adult females (55%).
NZ research indicates 40.1% and 17.6% of men are overweight and obese, respectively. This compares to rates of 29.4% and 14.9%, for women. Even a small amount of weight loss (5 to 10%) can have significant heath benefits, such as improving blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose levels. This in-turn helps to reduce the risk of having a heart attack or stroke or developing Type 2 Diabetes.
Recent research has suggested that half of obese or overweight men are not actively incorporating dieting or weight watching into their lifestyle and 59% of overweight men believe their weight meets Australian health guidelines. Also NZ men tend to fall short when it comes to diet, with only 1 in 2 men in NZ eating the recommended serves of fruit and vegetables (at least 2 serves of fruit and 5 serves of vegetables) each day! Vegetables and fruit are not only highly nutritious but having a diet rich in fruits and vegetables have also been shown to help protect against heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure.
It’s estimated that about 45 percent of western men are unhappy with their bodies to some degree, compared with only 15 per cent some 25 years ago. Most experts believe the real figures on eating and exercise disorders among Australian men could be much higher. Men are less likely to seek medical help than women for any type of illness. Since worrying about weight and body shape has always been seen as a ‘female’ problem, men are even less likely to ask for help, for fear of looking weak and effeminate.
It is alarming that one in five obese people are unaware that simple lifestyle changes reduce their risk of heart disease. A good test for a Caucasian man is to ensure that his waist measurement is less than 94cms. If it is more than this, then action needs to be taken.
Achieving a healthy weight through eating a healthy diet and undertaking regular physical activity, can go a long way in reducing men's risk of health problems and disease. Try to eat:
- At least 2 serves of fruit and 5 serves of vegetables a day
- Ensure that half of your intake of grain food are wholegrain
- Moderate amounts of low fat dairy food plus lean meats, poultry and fish
- Only small amounts of foods high in saturated fat, sugar and salt
Other tips for men are:
- Know what you weigh and speak to your health care professional about whether that fits within the healthy weight range for your height
- Eat a balanced healthy diet
- Exercise regularly
- Have regular checkups from health professionals to stay on track.
And lastly, watching the amount you eat is also important; you can have too much of a good thing!
if you need help to implement these strategies, invest in yourself and find a program that can teach these skills.
1 ABS (2007-2008) National Health Survey: Summary of Results, Cat. No. 4364.0, Canberra
2 A Portrait of Health – key results of the 2006/07 New Zealand Health Survey. Ministry of Health 2008
3 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) 2004. Heart, stroke and vascular diseases – Australian facts 2004 AIHW Cat. No. CVD 27. Canberra: AIHW and National Heart Foundation of Australia (Cardiovascular Disease Series No. 22)
4 The Leading Edge, September 2009
5 The Heart Foundation, September 2009
6 A Portrait of Health – key results of the 2006/07 New Zealand Health Survey. Ministry of Health 2008
7 World Health Organization 2003a
8 http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Body_image_issues_for_men
