Men’s Health 2014

Did you know that only 5% of Aussie men aged 18 years and above eat sufficient serving of fruits and veggies? And that 68% are overweight or obese and only 42% engage in physical activity?

This year’s Men’s Health Week, happening today until 15th of June, highlights what influences men’s health in Australian society.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics report in 2010, “men’s attitudes towards health and health services are different to those of women”. The report further says this difference in attitude is due to biological factors such that men are more likely to “engage in risky behaviours such as substance abuse and dangerous driving”.

When it comes to oral health, having a Y chromosome seems to be an important influence. Some statistics from the 2010 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) survey showed:

• Women were more likely to have visited a dentist in the previous 12 months (64%) compared to men (56%)
• More men rated their oral health as ‘fair or poor’ (20%) compared to women (17%)

http://www.aihw.gov.au/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=60129544635

Practising good oral health is important for both genders, across all ages. If you have little boys, encouraging them to brush twice daily for at least two minutes and scheduling dental checkups can make a big impact as they grow old. You will be giving them a good foundation for a lifetime of good oral health.