Our changing bods

I FOUND a great summary this week of how men’s health changes from decade to decade, thanks to an organisation called “Foundation 49: Men’s Health” which promotes good health and well-being in all men through the decades of life. Foundation 49 had its origins thanks to former newspaper editor Tony Hitchin who did a lot of work helping men put aside their fear of going to the doctor and having regular check-ups.

They point out that each year in Australia more than four men die every hour from conditions that are potentially preventable – that’s 41,000 men a year.

Most Aussie blokes barely think about their health through to the end of their teens, and then only a fraction more during their twenties.

Come the 30s and we’re flat out starting a family and building careers, still healthy, but “it’s worth getting a health check-up in your early 30s to see how you’re travelling”.

Things start catching up with you in your 40s, juggling family and career, and you could be starting to feel a bit run down. The recommendation is to pay more attention to your work-life balance.

Annual check-ups should start in your 50s, then in your 60s, when retirement kicks in for most men, it’s really time to look after “number one” by eating healthily and keeping up with regular exercise.

For the 70s and beyond, the risks of various ailments are increasing and your health is more likely to impact your lifestyle. The recommendation is: “You should be staying as active as you can and maintaining relationships with family and friends.”

Interestingly, at every stage and decade, the basic recommendation is to keep an eye on the basics of weight, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, signs of diabetes, skin cancer and don’t be shy about doing self-examinations – even in your 20s, getting into the habit of regular health checks is recommended.

Perhaps that’s the answer to the FOFO problem – get started early, make it normal to go to the doctor from an early age.

Inside today’s paper we’ve included stories and information on Men’s Health. Yvette and our editorial team have compiled stories on topics as wide and varied as men’s body image and dental checks, through to great ways to stay active such as the local Men’s Shed.

Enjoy our blue edition.