Why British Men Are More Unhealthy Than Women And How To Improve It?

Jun 10, 2025

How does the current British men’s health statistics look like?

The average life expectancy for men in the UK is around 79 years. However, there is a gap between life expectancy and healthy life expectancy, with men expected to live about 60 years in good health.

Heart disease, cancer (especially prostate cancer), and respiratory diseases remain the leading causes of death among British men. Efforts to reduce smoking and improve diet and exercise habits are ongoing to address these issues.

Obesity rates among men are still high, with about 30% of men categorized as obese. This is related to lifestyle factors such as unhealthy diet and sedentary lifestyle.
Rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide among men have been constantly rising.

Are we seeing a rise in men suffering with certain health issues? If so, what are the most common?

Conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and respiratory illnesses are on the rise. Prostate cancer remains one of the most common cancers among men.
There has been a significant increase in mental health issues, involving anxiety, depression, and suicide rates.

Growing obesity rates continue to be a major concern as it contributes to other health problems, including diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases.

Why certain health issues are more prevalent among men compared to women?

Historically, men have been more susceptible to certain health issues, such as heart problems, due to various factors:

Men tend to develop cardiovascular diseases earlier than women. One reason is that women have higher levels of oestrogen, which provides some protection against heart disease until menopause.

Men also tend to have higher levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) and lower levels of good cholesterol (HDL).

Men are more likely to engage in risky behaviours such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and poor dietary habits.

Men are less likely to visit healthcare providers regularly, leading to later diagnoses.
Men are more likely to work in hazardous jobs, which can contribute to higher rates of injury.

Is this Changing?

There seems to be a greater awareness of men's health issues and the importance of preventive care.

More men seem to adopt healthier lifestyles, including better diets, regular exercise, and quitting smoking. These changes are helping to reduce the risk of heart disease and other chronic conditions.

While progress is being made, there is still work to be done to close the health gap between men and women.

Is modern lifestyle having an impact on the health of the male population?

Yes, modern living is impacting the male health in various ways:

The convenience of fast food and quick meals often leads to poor dietary choices. These foods are typically high in calories, sugars, and unhealthy fats, contributing to obesity, diabetes, cancer, and heart attacks and strokes. Dangerous nutritional deficiencies are also very common because unhealthy, diet, use of stimulants and chronic stress lead to the lack of essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Prolonged sitting at work and home and lack of exercise is another important factor that contributes to the poor health status among British men.

The pressures of modern lifestyle, including demanding jobs, lead to chronic stress, which impacts both physical and mental health. High stress levels are associated with weak immunity, hypertension, sleep disturbances, and increased susceptibility to anxiety and depression.

Exposure to pollution and other environmental hazards can negatively impact respiratory health and increase the risk of chronic diseases.
Excessive use of electronic devices leads to inactivity, sleep problems, and poor mental health.

Looking at nutritional aspect, are men at risk of deficiencies that can raise their risk of health issues?

Men in UK have low levels of vitamin D. Vitamin D is crucial for bone health, immune and muscle function, and regulating blood sugar and mental health. Deficiency can lead to osteoporosis, increased risk of cancer and infections, autoimmune conditions, diabetes, depression, and various chronic diseases.

Magnesium deficiency is very common due to the soil degradation, refined diet and stress. Magnesium is essential for muscle, heart, and nerve function, blood glucose control, and bone health. A deficiency can lead to muscle cramps, sleep problems, depression, fatigue, and increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Another dangerous nutritional deficiency among men is associated with the lack of Zinc. Zinc is important for the normal prostate function, healthy hair, immune function, mental health, and DNA synthesis. Men with low zinc levels are at higher risk of developing prostate problems, weakened immunity, hair loss, and other issues.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids deficiency is also common due to the low consumption of foods that rich in them. Omega-3 Fatty acids are vital for brain function, good mood, heart health, and reducing inflammation.

What are the nutritional and lifestyle improvements that men should implement?

Men should aim for a diet that includes a variety of whole (unrefined) foods to ensure they get a wide range of essential nutrients. This includes:

At least five portions of Vegetables (50% raw) and fresh Fruits a day.

Variety of Whole Grains including oats, millet, quinoa, buckwheat, barley, brown rice, whole dark rye bread and other unrefined grain foods.

Increased intake of healthier sources of Protein such as beans, lentils, nuts and seeds.
Healthy Fats found in avocados, nuts, seeds, organic coconut oil and cold-pressed olive oil.
More plant-based milks and yogurts and organic Tofu (organic soya cheese).

Limit consumption of Animal Foods (meat, dairy), sugar and other refined foods (white flour products, white rice, etc.), Processed Foods high in unhealthy fats, sugar and sodium.
Replace refined salt with pink or sea salt.

Drink plenty of well-filtered or distilled water (with a pinch of sea salt) throughout the day (8-10 glasses).

Eat regular 2-3 main meals (without snacking between them) to maintain energy levels and metabolism.

Do not skip proper breakfasts and avoid eating late.

Exercise every day.

Are there any key differences between men and women regarding nutrition?

Men generally require more calories and protein than women due to higher muscle mass and metabolic rate. It is especially important for men who are physically active or exercise to build muscle.

Women need more iron than men, especially during their reproductive years, due to menstruation. Men, on the other hand, need less iron and should be cautious about excessive iron intake, as it can be harmful.

An effective way to prevent iron toxicity is taking it with 500mg of Alpha Lipoic Acid. ALA is one of the most effective antioxidants and is known to prevent the oxidative effect of excessive iron intake.

What are the key supplements you would recommend for men?

Here are some key supplements that are often recommended for men, along with their benefits:

Because plants usually grow on poor-quality soil (with low mineral content), even a good whole-food diet may not be able to provide your body with a sufficient concentration of essential nutrients. In addition, the many men consume processed, refined and deprived of nutrients food, use popular stimulants, and experience emotional stress on a daily basis. All these factors lead to dangerous nutritional deficiencies greatly increasing the risk of various health problems. For this reason, it is very important to support your diet with the following nutritional supplements.

One tablet of a good Multivitamin-Mineral formula (Healthy Mega, Day-vit Active or A-Z Multivit) with breakfast and one tablet with lunch. Do not take the same multivitamin all the time but use different multivitamins interchangeably.

Since multivitamins do not contain enough Magnesium, Vitamin D and B12, apart from a multivitamin, take the listed below additional amounts of these three most vital nutrients:

150mg to 200mg of Magnesium (Magcitra or Magnesium Citrate powder) twice daily (in the morning and evening). It is essential for muscle, heart, and nerve function, blood glucose control, and bone health.
5000 IU of Vitamin D3 daily after breakfast, 5 days a week. Vitamin D is crucial for bone health, immune and muscle function, and regulating blood sugar and mental health.
1000 mcg of Vitamin B12 in the form of sublingual Methylcobalamin every day after breakfast under the tongue. It benefits brain and neurological health, and immune system function.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Important for heart health, brain function, and reducing inflammation.

15-20mg of Zinc daily after meal (usually zinc is included in multivitamins). Zinc strengthens immunity and aids testosterone production. Zinc is essential for prostate and immune function, hair health, digestion, and DNA synthesis.

Probiotics (such as UltraProbio or DailyProbio) are beneficial for gut health, immunity and mood.

Prostavital provides key Vitamins, Minerals, Micro elements, Antioxidants and Plant Extracts specially formulated for supporting optimum prostate health, immunity and general male health.

Ashwagandha is an adaptogenic herb that helps improve stress control and adrenal function. It also supports good mood, energy and vitality, stamina, cognitive function, immune system and physical endurance.

Men’s Key Health Concerns

Sources

Any information or product suggested on this website is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition. Never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. Consult your primary healthcare physician before using any supplements or making any changes to your regime.