January 19, 2014
Kingaroy residents aged between 10 and 55 are being invited to take part in a long-term study into the health of Australian men and boys being undertaken by the University of Melbourne.
From this month, researchers will be knocking on doors in selected parts of Kingaroy and inviting men and boys to join the study.
By participating, not only will they help researchers understand more about the well-being of Australian males, they will also have the chance to win a $100 gift voucher from one of their favourite stores.
The Ten To Men study, funded by the Federal Department of Health, is the first large-scale, ongoing study in Australia into the health and well-being of Australian men and boys.
It is collecting vital data on male health including general well-being, lifestyle, mental health, diet, exercise, social networks and relationships.
Ten to Men aims to collect health and lifestyle information from more than 20,000 men and boys across the country.
The study is “longitudinal” which means that reserachers will return to participants every few years for an update.
The information will help to inform government policy and program development to improve access to health services.
Public health statistics show the health of Australian males is on the sick list.
“A better understanding of the health of Australian males is long overdue,” said Prof Dallas English, from the School of Population and Global Health at the University of Melbourne.
“We need to let go of the stereotype of the tough Aussie male, and identify the real barriers to men achieving optimal health.”
In many areas, men are worse off than their female counterparts – they die, on average, five years younger, have higher mortality from injuries and suicide, and are at greater risk of many cancers and chronic conditions.
