National Men’s Health Week 2005 will be the fourth such event Scotland.  As in previous years, NMHW is fixed to take place during the week that ends on Father’s Day (which this year is on the 19th of June). 

NMHW2005 will also form part of the third International Men’s Health Week with activities again taking place in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, USA as well as throughout Europe. Links during NMHW, within Europe will be particularly strengthened due to the creation of the European Men's Health Network (for more information please go to: www.emhf.org). The Week is also supported by the International Society for Men’s Health. 

The central aims of NMHW are to:

National Men’s Health Week 2005

Click here for your Directory of Events in Scotland

National Men’s Health Week 2005 will run from June 13^th to the 19^th, with this year’s theme being Men and Weight.

The main focus of NMHW05 is to raise the profile of men's health and to highlight issues relating to men’s health. It is hoped to change men's health-related behaviour, not least in terms of increasing their willingness to access health care and reducing the risks they take with their health but also to promote men's awareness of wider lifestyle issues (including relationships, working life, body image and personal grooming) that can have an impact on health.

Recent statistics from the Scottish Executive revealed 43% of men in Scotland were overweight, with a further 20% classified as obese. The overweight; especially the obese, are at greater risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke and other health problems. A combination of poor diet, obesity and lack of exercise is the biggest threat to life expectancy levels.

During NMHW05, local men's health events and initiatives on a wide range of issues will take place throughout Scotland. A comprehensive list is included in the Directory of Events in Scotland. These events will be organized by NHS Boards and Trusts, health promotion units, hospitals, local authorities, schools, colleges, voluntary groups, charities, employers, commercial organizations and many other groups and individuals. These activities will not only directly reach individual men but also generate local and regional media coverage. The kind of events that can be expected to be taking place will include holding men's 'MOTs' or Health checks, physical activities, information displays, workshops and alternative therapies.

If you would like more information about NMHW05 please contact Men's Health Forum Scotland – contact details can be found by clicking here.

If you would like information about individual events, please contact the organisers directly, using the contact details supplied in the Directory.

Wishing you a happy, healthy and successful Men’s Health Week 2005!

The Theme for NMHW2005 - Men and weight/obesity

Weight/obesity has been selected as the focus for NMHW because it is now recognized to be a major public health problem. In 2001, according to official statistics, the proportion of men in England classified as overweight (BMI 25-30) was 47% and the proportion who were obese (BMI 30+) was 21%. Men are much more likely than women to have a BMI of 25+.

Being overweight or obese poses serious dangers to men’s health, in particular increasing the risk of developing heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers. An analysis of over 3,450 Framingham Heart Study participants over a 42-year period concluded that the decreases in life expectancy due to being overweight or obese are similar to those caused by smoking. (A. Peeters, et al., ‘Obesity in adulthood and its consequences for life expectancy: a life-table analysis’, Ann Intern Med. 2003 Jan 7;138(1):24-32.)

To date, little work has been done to address the problem of male overweight and obesity. Most advice is aimed at women, especially when it is provided via the media (e.g. women’s magazines) or commercial organisations . There is also evidence from the pharmaceutical industry that men are less likely to be prescribed drugs that can assist weight loss. Even though many men wish to lose weight, they often lack the knowledge and confidence to do so on a self-help basis. Unless this issue is addressed, men will increasingly be at risk of weight-related health problems.