Men's health statistics

'If you compare all the major killers, such as heart disease and lung cancer, men easily come out best, from the undertaker's point of view' - Dr Ian Banks, President, Men's Health Forum

This section contains a variety of statistics relating to men's health. They have been compiled by the Men's Health Forum and as such form a useful database for journalists, students and other health professionals seeking the basic statistical information on men's health.

Our stats were last updated for 2005. Although they remain accurate so long as the date is noted, this means that there may well be more contemporary figures available elsewhere is some cases. We hope to update our statistics when resources permit.

Latest stats from Health Statistics Quarterly published by National Statistics, November 2008.

In October 2006, National Statistics published Focus on Gender, an overview of the lives of men and women in contemporary UK society. It includes information on their characteristics, experiences and lifestyles including health, placing particular emphasis on the differences between males and females.

What do National Statistics conclude?

They says: 'the lives of men and women are becoming increasingly similar, but in the key areas of health, family and the labour market, there are still notable differences.

'There are more women than men and women live longer. However, women spend more years in poor health than men. Similar proportions of men and women are obese, but men are more likely to be overweight. Men are also more likely to be single, while more women are divorced, widowed or are lone parents. Girls continue to outperform boys in school. Although a greater proportion of men than women are in employment, women are more likely to work part time. While women still earn less than men, the pay gap is narrowing. Most of the responsibility for household chores and childcare still falls to women.'

You can download the file below.

Any other recent statistical sources?

National Statistics have also produces a Health Profile of England provides a collection of national and regional data to provide a yardstick against which people can compare data from their own local health profile. A focus of the 2006 profile is the six priority areas identified in Choosing Health: Tackling health inequalities; Reducing the number of people who smoke; Reducing obesity and improving diet and nutrition; Improving sexual health; Improving mental health and wellbeing; and Reducing harm and encouraging sensible drinking, Section 3 is of most obvious interest.

Another interesting recent publication is Vulnerable Groups and Access to Health Care: A Critical Interpretive Review which was a report for the National Co-ordinating Centre for NHS Service Delivery and Organisation R & D (NCCSDO) is 'a critical interpretive review of access to health care by vulnerable groups' — of which men are one.

It is a comprehensive collation of research and other evidence including some interesting statistics. The authors say: 'An interpretive synthesis does not simply produce a summary of the evidence; it interprets it in ways that are insightful and useful. Our aim was to produce theory: a logical, plausible and useful explanation, grounded in a comprehensive but not exhaustive body of evidence, about access to health care'. If that's your interest and you have an internet connection that's geared up for 495 page downloads, you may find it useful.

What about regional statistics?

The Health Profile of England (June 2007) brings together national and regional data from the six priority areas identified by the Department in Choosing health: tackling health inequalities; reducing smoking; reducing obesity; improving sexual health; improving mental wellbeing; and reducing harm and encouraging sensible drinking. The Department hopes the data will 'provide a yardstick against which people can compare data from their own local health profile'.

Why do the Forum's own stats include no comparative figures for men and women?

The Forum is wary about such comparisons as they can miss the point. At worst, they can be used to argue for the diversion of resources which the Forum would not support.

The Forum is committed to a gender-sensitive approach to health policy not a gender-centric one. Gender must be considered alongside race and class in the planning and provision of all health policies and services. If you need comparative data for women you can find it by following the links under each set of statistics or there is a PDF download below.