Life expectancy in men falls for the first time since records began
It is so easy to buy a takeaway by pushing buttons. Some people need a wake up call Michael Newman, personal trainer
While the pandemic has been instrumental in changing the way in which people perceive their own health the country has still seen a worrying decline in life expectancy for men. These statistics have experts worried because life expectency is usually expected to rise over time. STEVE DEEKS reports
The pandemic has changed many people’s perceptions of health for the better but despite this the country has seen a drop in life expectancy for men for the first time since records began.
The stark figures reveal that life expectancy at birth in the UK in 2018 to 2020 was 79 years for men and 83 years for women — representing a fall of seven weeks for males and almost no change for females from the latest comparison period of 2015 to 2017.
It means life expectancy for men has fallen for the first time since records began 40 years ago.
A fall in life expectancy is rare with it normally expected to increase over time.
The pandemic has inevitably made people more aware of their health — with many taking positive action — but perhaps not as much as might be expected.
Personal trainer Michael Newman, of Cowplain, said: ‘You would think the pandemic would be a wake-up call to people but I’ve not seen much of a change.
‘It’s terrible that life expectancy has fallen for men. How is that even possible? Working in health and fitness I want people to have a long happy life so it is sad in 2021 there is a decline.
‘There needs to be more education in schools on health. I also think people are not cooking as much for themselves. It is so easy to buy a takeaway by pushing a few buttons these days. Some people need a wake up call on what shape they are in.
‘Lockdown created an amazing opportunity for many people to get fit but a lot of people drank and ate. There is still the opportunity and always will be for people to do it. Every good decision leads you on a good path.’
Dave Wells, who runs personal fitness company DJW in Portsmouth, said he had experienced a mix of people taking more interest in their health during the pandemic.
‘I’ve found some people have wanted to improve their health but would rather do it in an outdoor space than in a gym with some still wary of Covid,’ he said.
‘People have come to me to improve their fitness and are more conscious of their health following the pandemic but it is difficult to say if overall there has been much of a change.
‘From what I saw people were keen to see gyms reopen for their physical and mental health. They are somewhere social and get you out of the house too.’
Harvey Elliott, who runs Workout Coach in Southsea, said: ‘A lot of people have changed their attitude and are taking their health more seriously.
‘It is seen as more of a priority than a chore now that’s the big difference. It’s more of a lifestyle change and a day to day routine.
‘We’ve seen a massive increase in numbers with people taking their health and fitness more seriously.
It’s more about their health rather than aesthetics now.
‘In lockdown there was not much to do which encouraged people to be proactive and get into fitness. Fitness helps with mental health.
‘We’ve had a big uptake of new clients with people also preferring to be in a Covid secure private studio rather than a big commercial gym.’ Pamela Cobb, from the Office for National Statistics, said: ‘Life expectancy has increased in the UK over the last 40 years, albeit at a slower pace in the last decade.
‘However, the coronavirus pandemic led to a greater number of deaths than normal in 2020.
Consequently, in the latest estimates, we see virtually no improvement in life expectancy for females compared to 2015 to 2017 at 82.9 years, while for males life expectancy has fallen back to levels reported for 2012 to 2014, at 79 years.
‘This is the first time we have seen a decline when comparing non-overlapping time periods since the series began in the early 1980s.’
She added: ‘Once the coronavirus pandemic has ended and its consequences for future mortality are known, it is possible that life expectancy will return to an improving trend in the future.’