Terrible state of men's health revealed

Monday 01 December 2014

Men in Jersey are living five years less than women, and are much more likely to die from cancer or die an “avoidable” death according to a major report out today.

The “State of Men’s Health” compares the health of men in Jersey to those around Europe, and has some worrying findings – including that one in three Jerseymen is overweight.

It says that the trends are broadly the same here as they are across the continent – that men live shorter lives, are more likely to die of preventable causes or lifestyle choices such as poor diet, smoking or drinking, and are more likely to be injured in the workplace.

The report has prompted a stark warning from Health Minister Andrew Green to Jerseymen – he says that they need to give their mental and physical health more priority, and to do it because their families need them.

He said: “This is a really useful piece of work that highlights some very important issues.

“Clearly a large number of men are reluctant to tackle some health concerns – if they won’t do it for themselves, they owe it to their families to take greater responsibility for their health.”

Among the key findings of the report were that:

• One in every five male deaths is smoking-related.
• Around 90 men of working age die every year, compared to 60 women.
• Around 120 male deaths are considered avoidable, compared to around 70 female deaths.
• Men are 58% more likely than women to due from the main cancers, and more likely to get cancer.
• A third of men are overweight, and one in six is obese.
• Men are more likely to be diagnosed with gonorrhea and syphilis than women.

Jersey’s top public health official, Medical Officer of Health Dr Susan Turnbull, said that the report was sobering.

She said: “A better understanding of men’s health is essential. Many men suffer illness and early death, which in many instances could have been prevented. This has a huge impact, not only on men themselves, but also on their families and wider society.”