Size Does Matter When it Comes to Men's Health Risks

BRIGHTON, England, September 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

As new figures show a third of UK men are so overweight they are unable to see their genitals^[1]due to a protruding midriff, medics are encouraging men to make one potentially lifesaving resolution and weigh up their health risks.

     (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120917/562416 )

The worrying new research indicates that 33% of men in Britain aged between 35 and 60 years are unable to see their penis when standing upright and looking downwards due to an overweight belly; increasing to 44% in men aged 51-60 years. These figures highlight that more than 5.6 million men in Britain are potentially dangerously overweight, are at risk of reducing their lifespan by 9 years and of suffering from a life-threatening, weight-related illness such as stroke, diabetes and heart disease.

The BIG check:

In light of the new findings, and with men renowned for ignoring matters to do with their health, a new online men's health resource - WeLoveOurHealth.co.uk - is launching the 'Big Check' Campaign.  The initiative, backed by leading medical professionals^[2], hopes to encourage men to make one simple, yet potentially lifesaving health check -  by asking  "Can you see your penis?" For a simple guide to taking a quick DIY health measurement, follow the Big Check instructions at WeLoveOurHealth.co.uk. Dependent on the results, the site's Health Risk Calculator will highlight areas of concern and will offer advice, support and suggestions to improve lifestyle and overall health.

A&E specialist and WeLoveOurHealth.co.uk's online doctor, Dr Johan du Plessis, comments: "This new research is really worrying and men must be encouraged to wake up to the potential life threatening risks of being overweight and to make this vital check. An obese man who can't see his penis is five times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, three times more likely to develop cancer of the colon and more than two and a half times more likely to develop high blood pressure - a major risk factor for stroke and heart disease."

^[1] One Poll Survey on behalf of We Love Our Health among 1,000 men. May 2012.

^[2]   Dr Johan du Plessis: Associate Specialist in Emergency Medicine, previously Medical Director of Casualty Plus and Medi Centres. Dr Sarah Brewer: GP, Nutritionist and award winning health writer. Dr Yvette Lolin: Consultant in Metabolic Medicine and Clinical Pathology. Dr David Brennand-Roper: the Emeritus Cardiologist at Guys and St Thomas Hospital, London

Notes to Editors:

WeLoveOurHealth.co.uk is a new online men's health resource, developed by three women (Daryl Taylor, Rhona Pearson and Anna Woolf), who wanted to create a unique, personalized resource to help their men be more pro-active with their healthcare.

The site is designed to:

- Help men take control of their health in their own time and location of choice, via a range of trackers, charts, action plans and email updates

- Provide men with quick and easy access to a range of health tests, with rapid and confidential results, reports and health advice from medical experts that can be read and referred to in their own time at home  - saving the time and inconvenience of a standard NHS Health MOT

- Provide men with convenient 24/7 access to an online GP and comprehensive healthcare library

- Membership includes a General Health Screen for a discounted introductory price of £49.95 and 3 months free membership (usually £14.95 per month) with full access to all the site's health check tools, reports and plans.

SOURCE WeLoveOurHealth.co.uk