Time for a mid life check?

49 is the age men are most likely to take stock of how their lifestyle is affecting their future health. These men are an average of 2 stones 3 lbs overweight (14kgs), with a 37 inch waist.

Fine words will not change the dreadful statistics that plague low income group men. The Mid Life Check can and does. The problem is that for many men their 'mid-life' is far less than 49 years and we need to work harder to address these inequalities

The report, by NHS MidLifeCheck, reveals that 43 per cent of the people using the free lifestyle-assessment website www.nhs.uk/midlifecheck are actually middle-aged 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 site guides users 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 per cent of men drink more than eight alcoholic units on one occasion at least

- once a week, with 7 per cent drinking that amount or more every day.

- 31 per cent did just 0-30 minutes of brisk physical activity in the previous week

- 63 per cent are overweight, with 21 per cent considered to be obese.

- 29 per cent are ex-smokers, with 13 per cent still smoking.

- 71 per cent reckon they eat five portions of fruit and veg several days per week

- with 19 per cent achieving 5-a-day, every day.

- 29 per cent 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.

Dr Ian Banks, Men's Health Forum President, said: "Fine words will not change the dreadful statistics that plague low income group men. The Mid Life Check can and does. The problem is that for many men their 'mid-life' is far less than 49 years and we need to work harder to address these inequalities"