This week (12-18 June 2023) is Men’s Health Week, and the topic for this year is Healthy Habits, covering five areas – eating, sleeping, drinking, moving and connecting. But why do we need to single out men’s health in particular? Let’s look at the stats to find out more.

According to statistics compiled by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, men, on the whole, are not quite as healthy as women, and often it is due to their habits. Key findings from their research in 2017-18[1] found the following:

• Fewer than 1 in 30 men ate enough fruit and vegetables • Men were almost twice as likely as women to drink sugar sweetened drinks on a daily basis • 7 in 10 men were overweight or obese (compared to 6 in 10 women) • Men were 1.5 times as likely to smoke daily as women • 1 in 4 men were consuming alcohol at levels placing them at risk of alcohol related disease or injury (compared to 1 in 11 women)

But on self-assessment, men are just as likely to say they rate their own health as excellent or very good compared to their female counterparts.

Men, it’s time to break some of these bad habits

We all know that bad habits are hard to break, and good habits can be hard to form. We’re all human after all, and often changing our behaviour requires willpower and determination. But we also know that it’s easier to break those bad habits if you have help and support, either from friends and family, or professionals such as ourselves.

In fact, a number of our services may be just what you need to break your bad health habits, and more importantly form good health habits in their place. For example:

Diet and nutrition – SwiftDoc offer services with our very own dietitian who may be able to take a closer look at your health from a dietary perspective. We’ve also just launched a new weight loss clinic, offering GP-led weight loss services via online consultations.

Quit smoking – As you’d know if you’re a smoker, a nicotine habit is one of the hardest to break. One of our more popular services is our Quit Smoking service. This doctor-led service may be able to help you to break the nicotine habit for good.

Psychology services – Many men don’t find it easy to admit that they’re struggling with their mental health, but thankfully, our online psychology services remove that first hurdle by offering care that can be accessed without even needing to leave the house. Psychology services are in high demand in the post-Covid world, so we’ve also just launched a new psychology service, offering timely care to both men and women.

We may also be able to help men with other specific health issues such as erectile dysfunction and sexual health and hair loss. It’s all available online in our menu of services, or just book a regular GP appointment to get started. The important thing to remember is that if you’re trying to break a bad habit, it’s often easier to do it with support. So this Men’s Health Week take that first step towards a good healthy habit by sharing your concerns with someone else, whether it be a loved one, or us as your trusted GPs. We’re here to help you achieve your healthy goals.

References:

1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. The health of Australia’s males. Accessed June 2023.

This website does not provide medical advice. It is intended for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately dial Triple 0 (000).