Call for action on UK men’s health as 133,000 die early every year

More than 133,000 men die early every year in the UK, equating to 15 every hour, according to a report calling for urgent action to improve men’s health.

Two in five men are dying prematurely, before the age of 75 and often from entirely avoidable health conditions, research by the charity Movember found.

Almost two in three men – 64% – wait more than a week before visiting a doctor with symptoms, while 48% believe it is normal practice to avoid health check-ups. Less than 40% take up the offer of an NHS health check for which they are eligible.

“The report findings should serve as a wake-up call to the unacceptable state of men’s health across the UK,” said Michelle Terry, the chief executive of Movember. “For too long, men’s health has been relegated to the sidelines of broader health conversations. Men’s health doesn’t exist in a vacuum.”

The report found the health of men in the UK was worse than in many other wealthy countries, while those living in the UK’s most deprived regions are 81% more likely to die prematurely than those in the wealthiest.

A boy born in the UK in 2021 can expect to live to 78.7 – four years less than a girl, more than three years less than boys in Switzerland, 2.6 years less than boys in Australia and 1.3 years less than boys in Ireland, the research found.

The leading causes of death, such as lung cancer and heart disease, could be prevented by stopping smoking, reducing alcohol intake, eating well and attending health screenings and appointments, according to the report.

William Roberts, the chief executive of the Royal Society for Public Health, said: “Too many men are dying too young and too many men experience poor health due to preventable conditions.

“It is critical that we address the underlying causes of poor men’s health. Men’s health affects us all and we need to see it as a critical part of a healthy nation.”

In England and Wales, suicide is the leading cause of death among men aged 20 to 34, and the suicide rate generally is three times higher for men than women.

The report highlighted how men are less likely to have healthy lifestyles than women, and are more likely to smoke, drink alcohol, take drugs, have high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

They are also less likely to attend health screening appointments and check-ups with their GP, putting them at risk of late diagnosis of illnesses such as cancer.

Urging ministers to launch a dedicated men’s health strategy, Terry said as well as saving lives, tackling the main preventable diseases in men could also save the UK £9.4bn a year.

The report found men living in Birmingham’s Ladywood area were, on average, more than 3.5 times as 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 early than men living in the 10 constituencies with the lowest.

Movember is also calling for the appointment of a dedicated national director for men’s health in England and a minister for men’s health in Scotland to mirror appointments in women’s health.

“If we want these tragic numbers to decrease, and better support the men in our lives, real change is needed urgently,” said Terry. “We need to invest in education, health system reform to meet the unique needs of all genders and have a dedicated men’s health strategy if we truly want to make progress.”

Supporting the campaign, Alastair Campbell, the former No 10 director of communications, the co-host of The Rest is Politics podcast and a mental health campaigner, said: “For too long, this country has been going backwards on policies that directly support men’s health.

“In mental health specifically, although there has been real progress in attitudes and awareness, the services and policies to tackle depression and anxiety have been going in the opposite direction.

“The new Labour government has a bright opportunity to be bold and change the face of men’s health – and this starts with a men’s health strategy.”

• In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie . In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org , or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org