Revealing new insight into your lifestyle habits. According to new statistics released by online service NHS MidLifeCheck, 49 is the age when you guys are most likely to take an interest and take stock of how your lifestyle is affecting your future health. According to the research you will on average be 2 stones, 3 lbs overweight (14kgs), with a 37-inch waist.

The report reveals that 43% of the people using the free lifestyle-assessment website (www.nhs.uk/midlifecheck) are men – challenging the myth that men are not interested in health. NHS MidLifeCheck was launched by the Department of Health in February, and has been visited by more than 170,000 people so far. The average age of men completing the lifestyle questionnaire was 49. 

 

NHS MidLifeCheck is completely confidential and guides the user through a series of multiple choice questions, before giving results and advice based on a red, amber, green traffic light system. People can then choose to set goals and create a plan in any of the five topic areas: Healthy Eating, Emotional Wellbeing, Physical Activity, Alcohol and Smoking.

 

Other facts revealed about men completing the questionnaire include:

 

•27% of men drink more than eight alcoholic units on one occasion at least once a week, with 7% drinking that amount or more every day. But a quarter don’t drink alcohol at all (27%)

•31% did just 0-30 minutes of brisk physical activity in the previous week

•63% are overweight, with 21% considered to be obese.

•29% are ex-smokers, with 13% still smoking.

•71% reckon they eat five portions of fruit and vegetables several days per week with 19% achieving 5-a-day every day.

•29% admit their emotional (mental) wellbeing is poor, with varying combinations of depression, high stress levels and pessimism.

 

Many men felt motivated by their results and decided to create a plan for change – the most popular topic being Healthy Eating.

 

The most common goals set by men on NHS MidLifeCheck were:

 

1.Eat more fruit and vegetables 

2.Eat a healthy breakfast 

3.Eat less chocolate and crisps 

4.Eat one piece of oily fish a week 

5.Climb the stairs for ten minutes 

6.Choose an alcohol free day a week.

 

People are encouraged to return to the NHS MidLifeCheck website a month later, to update their progress and track their weight.

 

To complete your own questionnaire, log onto www.nhs.uk/midlifecheck